Genetics Institute Hemophilia Group Launches "We Have Dreams" Corporate Campaign in Conjunction With National Hemophilia Foundation Annual Meeting
CAMBRIDGE, MA, November 17, 2000 -- Genetics Institute (GI) Hemophilia Group has launched a corporate campaign to help demonstrate the company's support for the hemophilia community and its commitment to helping find a cure for the genetic bleeding disorder. Making its debut at this year's annual National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF) meeting in Anaheim, CA, from November 9-11, the corporate campaign "We Have Dreams" reinforces the heritage and the science behind GI's efforts.

"We are proud to kick off the 'We Have Dreams' campaign to show our commitment to the hemophilia community," said Neal Fitzpatrick, Director, North America Hemophilia Products, Wyeth/Genetics Institute. "Wyeth/Genetics Institute has been a tireless pioneer in helping to improve the treatment for hemophilia and this campaign further reinforces our efforts."

Remarked Fitzpatrick, "Until we realize a cure, we'll continue our commitment to the safety of our hemophilia patients by providing only recombinant products for hemophilia A and B."

Genetics Institute, the biotech research division of Wyeth, a division of American Home Products Corporation, cloned and manufactures the first commercially available recombinant factor VIII protein, which was registered for use in the United States and Europe more than ten years ago. In 1997, GI introduced the first recombinant factor IX product, BeneFIX^® Coagulation Factor IX (Recombinant) for the treatment of hemophilia B. In March of 1999, the National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF) accepted a $2.5 million pledge by GI to fund research to find cures for bleeding disorders.

In collaboration with Pharmacia, the company has also commercialized the only B-domain deleted form of factor VIII, ReFacto^® Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant), which has been approved in both Europe and the United States. ReFacto and BeneFIX^® are, respectively, the world's first commercially available recombinant factor VIII and factor IX proteins formulated without human serum albumin, a key advance that reduces risk of contamination associated with blood-borne human pathogens.

Beyond direct research and development collaborations, Wyeth/Genetics Institute also has partnered with the National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF) in the "Together for a Cure" program. Through this partnership, Wyeth/Genetics Institute provides the NHF matching grants up to $2.5 million to raise research funds to seek cures for bleeding disorders. In addition, Wyeth/Genetics Institute is partnering with the Canadian Hemophilia Society on the "Care Until Cure" program, in which the company has made a three-year commitment to grant $150,000 annually to various Canadian investigators to support clinical research in hemophilia and other bleeding disorders.

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