Thalassemia Patients and Friends

Discussion Forums => Curing Thalassemia. Bone Marrow & Cord Blood Transplant => Topic started by: JV on March 16, 2012, 07:20:22 PM

Title: Alternatives to BMT
Post by: JV on March 16, 2012, 07:20:22 PM

http://www.pharmaceutical-business-review.com/news/hemaquest-secures-13m-series-b-extension-financing-140312

Does anybody know anything about this? Is this related to Gene Therapy?

Title: Re: Alternatives to BMT
Post by: Andy Battaglia on March 17, 2012, 12:10:33 AM

Hemaquest is the company set up to bring the drug known as HQK-1001 to market. HQK-1001 is a fetal hemoglobin inducing drug that is currently in stage two trials. The hopes are that it can raise Hb level by as much as 3-4 points, which would eliminate the need for transfusion in most thal intermedias, and hopefully will reduce the amount of blood majors need. The drug was developed by Dr Susan Perrine. It is not related to gene therapy.

Title: Re: Alternatives to BMT
Post by: JV on March 19, 2012, 02:44:05 PM

Thanks Andy...do the people you have contact with have any opinion on this drug? What would be the timetable for a widespread release. Do you think something like this would be worth waiting for?

Title: Re: Alternatives to BMT
Post by: Andy Battaglia on March 19, 2012, 03:00:41 PM

I do not have any update on the trial. I would suggest asking Dr Cohen what he knows about the progress of Dr Perrine's work.