Big Pharmas, medical device companies and healthcare groups have teamed up with the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) for a new campaign aimed at boosting awareness about how to spot and treat blood clots.
The ISTH has created World Thrombosis Day, which occurs annually on Oct. 13. This year, the focus was on how thrombosis can impact women's health.
This has come with the release of a new global survey aimed at understanding women's awareness of their health risks. The idea is to use the information from the survey to help better understand and improve outcomes “for women at risk of blood clots during pregnancy, postpartum, and other critical life stages,” according to a release.
This year’s campaign is being backed and, according to the Society, “enhanced in 2024” by the Bristol Myers Squibb Pfizer Alliance, Cardinal Health, Inari, Leo Pharma, Penumbra, Regeneron and Viatris.
All the companies have skin in the game for clotting/bleeding disorders. The BMS-Pfizer Alliance market Factor Xa blood clotting drug Eliquis, a megablockbuster that brought in $12 billion in 2023, while Regeneron is working on investigational meds for bleeding disorder hemophilia.
Cardinal Health markets products for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) as Inari sells medical devices to treat blood clots just like Penumbra does. Leo Pharma specializes in treating blood clots, while Viatris sells generic anti-clotting meds such as Clopidogrel Viatris and Rivaroxaban Viatris.
Thrombosis occurs when blood clots block blood vessels and can come about from a variety of issues, including injury, disease, inherited disorders, obesity and more.
The Society says, “one in four deaths are related to conditions associated with thrombosis” and it wants to help lower this “alarming statistic.”
“Understanding the risks of blood clots is crucial, as one in four people die worldwide from conditions caused by thrombosis. Raising awareness about VTE can ensure better care for those at risk,” said Lana Castellucci, M.D., chair of the World Thrombosis Day Steering Committee.
“This year, we are particularly focused on women's health and thrombosis. By gathering data through this survey, we aim to understand women's experiences with VTE education during pregnancy and postpartum and hope to empower women with knowledge and improve health outcomes for themselves and their families.”