COMPTON, April 17th 2009 – To mark World Haemophilia Day, Baxter UK is launching a new youth sponsorship programme to haemophilia centres nationwide. Advance Your Passion has been developed to further the passions of young haemophilia patients.

Haemophilia patients between the ages of 4-18 have the opportunity to apply for one of four £1500 grants throughout the year to put towards furthering a range of  ‘passions’, including sport, music, dance, art, literature or academic pursuits.  There are also eight rewards of £250 available for runners up.

Entries have been divided up into four age groups 4-8 years, 9-13 years and 14-18 years.  Every three months, a winner from each age group will be picked and then allocated either the first or runner up prizes.

Young patients or their carers can apply online at www.advanceyourpassion.co.uk   Their entries will then be reviewed by a panel of judges.  Entry dates are below:

Closing deadline First Prize Runner up
23rd July 2009 £1500  2x £250
22nd October 2009 £1500  2x £250
21st January 2010 £1500  2x £250
22nd April 2010 £1500  2x £250

Deborah Brady, BioScience Business Unit Director, Baxter UK,  said, “The Advance Your Passion programme will give young haemophilia patients a helping hand at making their dreams and ambitions a reality.  This programme further builds on Baxter’s long-standing commitment to initiatives aimed at supporting patients with haemophilia.”

Alongside this UK initiative and recognition of the 20th anniversary of World Haemophilia Day, Baxter International, Inc., in its continuing partnership with the World Federation of Haemophilia, today announced the availability of the “Together, We Care” video podcast available at www.baxterhealthcare.co.uk  to help raise awareness of the vital role of comprehensive care in haemophilia management and to call attention to disparities in care around the world.

“Haemophilia is serious, and can be life-threatening, but with a comprehensive care management approach, including treatment and care from a team of healthcare professionals, people with haemophilia can live longer, healthier lives,” said Mark Skinner, president, World Federation of Haemophilia.  “We are grateful to Baxter for its support of the ‘Together, We Care’ video podcast, an important educational tool to help ensure that all patients with a bleeding disorder, regardless of where they live in the world, have access to proper management, care and treatment.”

To help raise the standard of and provide access to care for the global haemophilia community, Baxter makes available a number of resources, including education, advocacy programs and support, clinician support and factor replacement therapies integral components of the comprehensive care approach.    In particular, the company has donated $1.5 million and nearly 3 million IUs of its haemophilia products to the World Federation of Haemophilia’s Global Alliance for Progress (GAP) program since its inception, of which the company is founding member and leading sponsor.
 
The GAP program was launched by the World Federation of Haemophilia and its members to improve the diagnosis and treatment of people with haemophilia in up to 30 developing countries.
 “We’re proud to be part of the global effort to help ensure broad-based access to treatment and care for people with haemophilia, particularly through support of the ‘Together, We Care’ video podcast and the Advance Your Passion programme,” said Deborah Brady, BioScience Business Unit Director, Baxter UK.  “Through our efforts, we hope to raise awareness of the impact of haemophilia on the global community and inspire others to join in the effort to ensure access to quality care for all.”

Notes to Editors:
About Comprehensive Care
Comprehensive care is critical to managing the physical, emotional, psychological, social and educational needs of people with haemophilia and their families.  The haemophilia care team includes a wide range of professionals –including haematologists, nurses, physical therapists, social workers, counsellors and many others – who deliver the skills and care necessary to manage patient needs and improve their health.  The new video podcast highlights the vital role of these comprehensive care teams in improving haemophilia patients’ overall health through both the patient and healthcare professional perspective.
The much needed factor replacement therapies developed and made available by Baxter also are an integral part of the comprehensive care approach.  With more than 50 years of innovation and therapeutic firsts that have revolutionised haemophilia treatment, Baxter provides a wide range of therapies that benefit patients and clinicians at every treatment stage, helping to raise the standard of care for people with haemophilia around the world.

About World Haemophilia Day
April 17, 2009 marks the 20th anniversary of World Haemophilia Day.  Since its creation in 1989 in honor of the World Federation of Haemophilia’s founder Frank Schnabel, World Haemophilia Day has not only served as a day of celebration for the haemophilia community, but also as an opportunity to increase awareness of haemophilia and other bleeding disorders and their impact on the global community.

About Haemophilia A
Haemophilia A is largely an inherited disorder in which one of the proteins needed to form blood clots, factor VIII, is missing or reduced.  Without enough factor VIII, people with haemophilia can experience spontaneous, uncontrolled internal bleeding that can be painful, debilitating and damaging to joints.  In about 30 percent of cases, there is no family history of haemophilia and the condition is the result of a spontaneous gene mutation.  According to the World Federation of Haemophilia, more than 400,000 people in the world have haemophilia

About Baxter
Baxter Healthcare Ltd is the principal UK operating subsidiary of Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX). Baxter International Inc. develops, manufactures and markets products that save and sustain the lives of people with haemophilia, immune disorders, infectious diseases, kidney disease, trauma, and other chronic and acute medical conditions. As a global, diversified healthcare company, Baxter applies a unique combination of expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology to create products that advance patient care worldwide.

About the World Federation of Haemophilia
The World Federation of Haemophilia is an international not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving the lives of people with haemophilia and related bleeding disorders.  Since it was established in 1963, the World Federation of Haemophilia has grown into a truly global network, with member organisations in more than 113 countries and official recognition from the World Health Organisation. The World Federation of Haemophilia works in partnership with healthcare professionals and people with haemophilia, governments and regulators, industry and foundations, to improve haemophilia care throughout the world.