CSL Behring Announces the 2015 Interlaken Leadership Awards Recipient

Awards Program Supports Novel Research of Immunoglobulin Therapy for Neurological Disorders

News provided by

Jun 29, 2015, 01:30 ET

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., June 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- CSL Behring announced today that Mohammad Alsharabati, MD, University of Alabama at Birmingham, United States, is the recipient of the 2015 Interlaken Leadership Award for original research in the field of neuroimmunology. This annual global awards program provides monetary grants and/or product supply for investigational use to support research focusing on the potential role of immunoglobulin (Ig) therapy in the treatment of neurological disorders. The global review committee seeks proposals likely to advance innovative medical research and knowledge about the potential role of Ig therapy to improve the lives of patients who have disabling neurological conditions.

Dr. Alsharabati's proposal to investigate subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIg) versus intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) in the management of neuromuscular junction (NMJ) disorders was chosen for its focus on myasthenia gravis and Lambert Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome. The study will determine if the same constant therapeutic effect seen when treating primary immunodeficiency syndrome patients subcutaneously can be reproduced in NMJ disorder patients.

"While immunoglobulin treatment for NMJ disorders is practiced, there is much to learn about the differences between IVIg and SCIg treatment. Specifically, we'll assess whether SCIg treatment can maintain a higher trough level for patients so they do not go through fluctuations in symptoms, thereby improving quality of life and management of their symptoms," said Dr. Alsharabati. "I'm enthusiastic about conducting this research and am honored to have been selected to receive the Interlaken Leadership Award."

"CSL Behring is proud to support Dr. Alsharabati in his endeavors advancing NMJ disorders research," said Karen MacPhail, Senior Director, Immunology, CSL Behring. "Studies like this are focused on improving patients' lives, which is at the heart of our company values. CSL Behring is committed to supporting innovative research that might lead to the discovery of new treatment options for our patients."

Since 2010, the Interlaken Leadership Awards has awarded over $5 million in grants and/or study drug for research studying Ig therapy in areas such as neuromyelitis optica (NMO), Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), paraneoplastic syndromes, autoimmune peripheral neuropathies, and Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). All proposals received for the Interlaken Leadership Awards program are evaluated based on scientific merit, strength of hypothesis, relevance to neuroimmunology and feasibility.

About CSL Behring
CSL Behring is a leader in the plasma protein therapeutics industry. Committed to saving lives and improving the quality of life for people with rare and serious diseases, the company manufactures and markets a range of plasma-derived and recombinant therapies worldwide.

CSL Behring therapies are used around the world to treat coagulation disorders including hemophilia and von Willebrand disease, primary immune deficiencies, hereditary angioedema and inherited respiratory disease, and neurological disorders in certain markets. The company's products are also used in cardiac surgery, organ transplantation, burn treatment and to prevent hemolytic disease of the newborn.

CSL Behring operates one of the world's largest plasma collection networks, CSL Plasma. CSL Behring is a global biopharmaceutical company and a member of the CSL Group of companies. The parent company, CSL Limited (ASX:CSL), is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. For more information, visit http://www.cslbehring.com/.

Contact:

Jennifer Seiler
External Communications Manager
CSL Behring
O: 610-878-4802
[email protected]

SOURCE CSL Behring