Puget Sound Blood Center’s Kathleen Pratt, Ph.D.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bayer Awards Grant to Puget Sound Blood Center’s Dr. Kathleen Pratt

Work of Blood Center Scientist Recognized by HealthCare Giant

Dr. Pratt’s Hemophilia Research Utilizes Protein Engineering

JUNE 04, 2007, SEATTLE — Puget Sound Blood Center’s Kathleen Pratt, Ph.D., recently received a Bayer HealthCare, LLC, Pharmaceutical grant of $150,000 toward her promising work in hemophilia research.
Puget Sound Blood Center Researcher Dr. Pratt is conducting several studies of factor VIII, the protein that is essential for normal clotting, and of the adverse immune response that many hemophilia A patients have to factor VIII infusions.

The eventual goal of Dr. Pratt’s work is to use protein engineering methods to “de-immunize” factor VIII by developing new versions of the clotting protein that are less likely to provoke immune responses in patients.

The Bayer grant will allow Dr. Pratt and colleagues to extend promising pilot studies to investigate major immunogenic regions of factor VIII. The studies are directed at a significant problem: 15 to 25 percent of patients with hemophilia develop antibodies to these regions, making bleeding much more difficult to treat.

The grant will fund laboratory staff and enable the researchers to purchase materials necessary to carry out the studies.

“We are thrilled to receive this support for our research into a serious clinical problem,” said Dr. Pratt, an assistant member, Research, at the Blood Center and an acting assistant research professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine. “This grant will allow us to biochemically characterize the initial steps in the immune response to factor VIII. The grant is very timely; our pilot studies with a small group of volunteer blood donors have been quite promising and informative.”

About Bayer HealthCare
From world-renowned drug products to the high-tech platform, from innovative diagnostics technology to veterinary medicines – Bayer HealthCare is a health care company of international repute, and an independently operating subgroup under the Bayer AG umbrella.
It covers the fields of animal health, genetically produced medicines, over-the-counter products, diagnostic products and prescription drugs. Bayer HealthCare builds upon a foundation that is steeped in tradition: More than 100 years of medical innovation and social responsibility provide an outstanding basis for continued success.

Bayer HealthCare is a legally independent company comprising four divisions: Animal Health, Consumer Care, Diabetes Care and Pharmaceuticals. 33,800 people around the globe are involved in making the whole range of services and products available to the health care industry, as well as with constantly improving the company’s performance.

For more information on Bayer, visit www.bayerhealthcare.com.

About the Blood Center
Puget Sound Blood Center is independent, community-based regional resource recognized internationally for its research, medical and blood and tissue services. Known as the leader in transfusion medicine, Puget Sound Blood Center operates the world's largest transfusion service as well as patient-focused research programs and specialized laboratory services in support of transfusion and transplantation services. Patients with leukemia, cancer, burns, hemophilia and traumatic injuries depend on the breakthrough discoveries made by Blood Center scientists.

The Blood Center’s Hemophilia Care Program helps people with hemophilia obtain early, effective treatment and acquire skills that foster independence and minimize the acute and chronic complications of hemophilia.

If you have any questions contact Tom Butterworth at 206-292-6511 or pager 206-680-2610.

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