Michael Makris on WHO’s Essential Medicines List Update: A Win for the Global Haemophilia Community
Michael Makris, Emeritus Professor of Haemostasis and Thrombosis at the University of Sheffield, Editor-in-Chief of RPTH Journal, posted on LinkedIn:
”Great result
I was really pleased to hear from Brian O’Mahony that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has listened and changed its lists of core and complementary products to treat diseases when it comes to haemophilia. Their previous, (still the current), list suggests cryoprecipitate as a core treatment for haemophilia, which is strange as it has poor efficacy and is not safe in the countries likely to use it. Congratulations to the World Federation of Hemophilia for all their hard work representing the haemophilia community and persuading the WHO to implement this change.
The new recommendations appearing on the next edition of the lists will now show:
a) Removal of pathogen-reduced cryoprecipitate and cryoprecipitate from the core list
b) Plasma-derived FVIII and FIX will be moved from the complimentary to the core list
c) Prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) for the treatment of haemophilia B will be removed from the list due to the thrombotic risk
d) Recombinant FVIII and FIX will now be on the core list for prophylaxis and on-demand treatment
e) Emicizumab will be added to the complimentary list for prophylaxis in haemophilia A for persons with and without inhibitors.
Two key lessons:
1. When the haemophilia community works together, it achieves results
2. The WHO should rely on experts who are directly involved in the treatment of a specific disease.”
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