28-Year-Old with Hemophilia to Run in the Canadian International Marathon
TORONTO, ONTARIO, October 12, 2000 -- Paul McNeil, a 28-year-old registered nurse from Sudbury, Ontario will be running in his first-ever marathon at the Canadian International Marathon on October 15, 2000. The race begins at 9 a.m. from Mel Lastman Square in North York. It is believed that Paul is the first individual with hemophilia to run a marathon.

In order to focus attention on the tremendous strides that have been made in hemophilia therapy over the past two decades, leading to a positive outcome for individuals who have this condition, Hemophilia Ontario has rallied support around Paul McNeil in what they have dubbed the Run for Hemophilia. The project is being sponsored by Wyeth/Genetics Institute, a leading research-based pharmaceutical company.

According to Richard Yampolsky, Executive Director of Hemophilia Ontario, Paul represents everything that is now possible for those with hemophilia. "Paul McNeil is clearly a role model. Years ago the thought that he or anyone with hemophilia could run a marathon would be outside the realm of possibility. When Paul approached me several months ago and casually mentioned that he was going to do this, we saw it not only as a tremendous personal accomplishment but also as an opportunity to let the hemophilia community know that we have turned the corner-that they can enjoy a normal, active life, just like everyone else."

"An important component of our commitment to the hemophilia community is to help foster greater understanding of the disease as well as how research and medical technology can have a positive impact on quality of life," said Aldo Baumgartner, President, Wyeth-Ayerst Canada. Teaming up with Hemophilia Ontario in the Run for Hemophilia enables us to further contribute to the community."

What makes Paul different from other runners is that he has severe factor IX hemophilia, a condition that would usually put him at high risk of developing bleeding in joints, soft tissue, muscle, and even the brain, often caused by a minor injury, such as a bump or slight twist of a joint. As a result, most hemophiliacs lead severely restricted lives, with many social and physical activities off limits. Approximately 500 Canadians suffer from hemophilia B. Paul's decision to compete in the marathon has nothing to do with taking risks and everything to do with his rigorous training, determination, and recent advances in medical technology. "For high-achieving individuals, hemophilia is not an impediment or an excuse to achieving one's goals," says Paul McNeil.

Hemophilia has become a manageable condition
The most recent advance in hemophilia therapy has been the use of recombinant technology to produce treatment to control bleeding. Recombinant products do not use human plasma as a source, thus virtually eliminating the risk of blood-borne viruses. Therapeutic agents produced by recombinant technology have been in use for almost 2 decades in the treatment of more than 5,000,000 patients without any evidence of viral infection. Paul uses his medication preventively and infuses the factor replacement at home on a daily basis. His medication plays a critical factor in his achievements.

Trained to complete the marathon
Paul started off running slowly, building his muscles gradually. He began running 7-8 km, 6 days a week and gradually increased this to 30 km. In addition to weight training, biking, and swimming, Paul follows a good diet and drinks 6 litres of water a day. In his spare time, he leads a highly active life, including canoeing, snow shoeing, teaching piano, and leading Hemophilia Ontario's annual Youth Wilderness Expedition. He is married and is currently pursuing a university degree.

Hemophilia Ontario was established in 1957 and is committed to improving the quality of life of people affected by hemophilia and related bleeding disorders and to working toward a cure. Hemophilia Ontario is organized into five regions: Ottawa and Eastern Ontario, with an office in Ottawa; Toronto and Central Ontario, based in Toronto; Central West Ontario, with an office in Hamilton; South Western Ontario, located in London; and North Eastern Ontario, with its office in Sudbury.

Wyeth/Genetics Institute was formed in 1997 when Genetics Institute became a unit of Wyeth-Ayerst Pharmaceuticals. In Canada, Wyeth/Genetics Institute is represented by Wyeth-Ayerst Canada, a subsidiary of American Home Products. Its commitment to the hemophilia community is centered on bringing safe and effective treatments to patients and their health care providers. Along with serving as a leader in biotechnology research and development, Wyeth/Genetics Institute also participates in and supports hemophilia research, scientific meetings, and patient advocacy organizations.

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