Gaucher Community News - National Gaucher Foundation
Gaucher Community News - National Gaucher Foundation
Gaucher Community News - National Gaucher Foundation
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Pfizer and Protalix Announce Partnership<br />
Agreement to Develop New Treatment<br />
Option for Type I <strong>Gaucher</strong> Disease<br />
Contact Us at the NGF<br />
A potential new treatment option for Type I<br />
<strong>Gaucher</strong> disease may be available to patients<br />
worldwide in the near term. Drugmaker, Pfizer Inc.<br />
announced this week that they have collaborated<br />
with an Israeli biotech company to help develop a<br />
promising enzyme replacement therapy that may<br />
provide an alternative therapeutic option to patients<br />
seeking treatment. Protalix Biotherapeutics Inc.<br />
is employing a new plant-cell based technology<br />
using genetically engineered carrot cells to<br />
develop taliglucerase alfa. This will be the first<br />
plant-based enzyme replacement therapy after the<br />
product is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug<br />
Administration (FDA).<br />
According to the drug developers, taliglucerase<br />
alfa is currently being provided to <strong>Gaucher</strong><br />
disease patients in the U.S. under the Expanded<br />
Access Program (EAP) treatment protocol, as<br />
well as to patients in the European Union under a<br />
compassionate use protocol. Taliglucerase alfa has<br />
successfully completed Phase III clinical studies<br />
and will soon be submitted for a rolling New Drug<br />
Application (NDA) by Protalix.<br />
“Pfizer and Protalix are committed to combating<br />
<strong>Gaucher</strong> disease and will combine their<br />
complimentary expertise to bring therapeutic<br />
options to patients in need,” said David Simmons,<br />
president and general manager of Pfizer’s<br />
Established Products Business. “We are working<br />
to develop appropriate programs that are intended<br />
to help patients have access to this treatment.”<br />
Please email questions to<br />
<strong>Gaucher</strong>patients@pfizer.com.<br />
Robin A. Ely, M.D.<br />
President and Medical Director<br />
Toll Free: 800-504-3189<br />
Fax: 770-934-2911<br />
robinbmd@aol.com<br />
Rhonda P. Buyers<br />
CEO/Executive Director<br />
800-504-3189<br />
FAX: 770-934-2911<br />
rhonda@gaucherdisease.org<br />
................................<br />
Rosina M. Papantonio<br />
Marketing Director<br />
800-541-7549<br />
850-934-0377 or 850-934-0378<br />
Fax: 904-339-9980<br />
rosina@gaucherdisease.org<br />
Cynthia J. Frank<br />
Director of Development<br />
877-649-2742 or 415-839-5155<br />
Fax: 415-839-5189<br />
cyndi@gaucherdisease.org<br />
Linda Gometz<br />
Executive Assistant<br />
800-504-3189 or 770-934-2910<br />
Fax: 770-934-2911<br />
linda@gaucherdisease.org<br />
Barbara Lichtenstein<br />
Programs Director <strong>National</strong> <strong>Gaucher</strong> Care <strong>Foundation</strong><br />
CARE Program & CARE+PLUS Program,<br />
Care and Care+Plus.<br />
866-346-8176<br />
Fax: 301-963-4489<br />
blichtenstein@comcast.net<br />
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