Beta-thalassemia has long been a major issue, as one in seven Cypriots (15%) is a carrier of the disease.
At a press conference held on Wednesday, September 23, in Nicosia, the importance of the latest scientific developments and the value of collaboration in accessing innovation were highlighted.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Current challenges, the value of institutional collaboration, and new therapeutic options for managingthalassemia and myelodysplastic syndromes were the focus of a press conference organized in Cyprus by the biopharmaceutical company Bristol Myers Squibb. The conference was attended by representatives from the hematology and academic communities, as well as the patient community. The government was represented by Maria Adamou, a First-Class Hospital Laboratory Technician at the Ministry of Health, as well as by the Deputy Director General of the Health Insurance Organization (OAY), Iphigenia Kammitsi.
Important new scientific findings and prospects for better disease management were presented by Dr. Sotiroula Christou, Chief Medical Officer and Head of the Thalassemia Clinic in Nicosia at Archbishop Makarios III Hospital, Dr. Niki Vyridou, Specialist in Hematology, Associate Professor at the University of Nicosia School of Medicine, Dr. Maria Vergoulidou–Stylianidi, Hematologist–Internal Medicine Oncologist; Dr. Androulla Eleftheriou, Executive Director of the International Thalassemia Federation; Chair of the National Committee on Thalassemia and Other Hemoglobin Disorders of the Cyprus Ministry of Health, Member of the Board of Directors of OKYPY, and Maria Oikonomou, Treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Pan-Cyprus Thalassemia Association.
The event was moderated by journalist Dimitra Makrygianni, while opening remarks were delivered by Panikos Vassiliou, General Manager of the CPO Group, and Costas Papaellinas.
Referring to Bristol Myers Squibb’s commitment, George Tsiakalakis, Director of Market Access and Corporate Affairs at BMS, emphasized that “At Bristol Myers Squibb, we invest in scientific research in hematology, developing innovative therapies that are an integral part of modern hematological care. The progress we have seen in recent years in reducing the need for blood transfusions and improving patients’ quality of life demonstrates what science can achieve when combined with timely and equitable access. In support of Cyprus’s national effort—which serves as an international model for the management of beta-thalassemia—we remain steadfast in our close collaboration with Cypriot authorities, the scientific community, and patient associations, with the shared goal of providing better care for patients.”
Data from the international literature, which were presented at the conference, indicate that worldwide, approximately 1.5% of the population (80–90 million people) are carriers of beta-thalassemia, and approximately 60,000 individuals with symptomatic disease are born each year. Nevertheless, it is commonly accepted that these figures are significantly underestimated, given the lack of national, regional, and global registries and up-to-date epidemiological studies, which places a significant medical, social, and economic burden on individuals, families, and health care systems. For Cyprus, the disease has long been a major issue, as 1 in 7 Cypriots (15%) is a carrier of the disease, while 652 patients with beta-thalassemia are systematically monitored at the country’s specialized Thalassemia Centers, 598 of whom have the major form. At the same time, Cyprus ranks among the countries with the longest experience, having developed a pioneering national framework for prevention and voluntary blood donation since the 1970s, and in 1985, the first WHO Collaborating Center for Thalassemia was established. Today, the quality of care is clearly reflected in the high rates of education and vocational rehabilitation among patients.
Analyzing the clinical picture of beta-thalassemia, Dr. Christou focused on the mechanisms of ineffective erythropoiesis and chronic anemia, highlighting the serious complications caused by iron overload from chronic blood transfusions, which result in physical, financial, and psychological burdens, while also affecting the adequacy of blood supplies. As Dr. Christou pointed out, “the multiple comorbidities that develop over time make it necessary to form a multidisciplinary team, ensuring a patient-centered approach where every treatment decision is made in consultation with the patient. The goal for the future is not simply for patients to live longer, but to live better—with a lighter treatment burden, fewer complications, greater independence from blood transfusions, and a better quality of life.” She also added that “in Cyprus, significant strides have been made in both the prevention and treatment of thalassemia. However, despite the significant progress that has been made, there is still considerable room for further improvement, with the goal of continuously enhancing the care and quality of life for people with thalassemia.”
For her part, Dr. Vyridou discussed myelodysplastic syndromes, explaining that they constitute a heterogeneous group of hematologic disorders that primarily affect the elderly population. Dr. Vyridou emphasized the burden patients face due to chronic anemia and dependence on blood transfusions, highlighting the need for early diagnosis and modern treatment options, which translate into fewer blood transfusions, fewer hospital visits, and greater freedom for patients to focus on life beyond their illness.
In presenting the scientific advancements, Dr. Christou and Dr. Vergoulidou-Stylianidi discussed new innovative therapies and new red blood cell maturation factors. Dr. Vergoulidou-Stylianidi explained that the results of clinical studies demonstrate that “the new targeted therapies offer a substantial reduction in—or even independence from—red blood cell transfusions, a sustained increase in hemoglobin levels, and fewer hospital visits, positively changing the clinical course and future of patients.”
Maria Oikonomou focused on the patients’ daily lives, noting that reducing the need for blood transfusions is a key factor, as it translates into “fewer absences from work, easier family planning, less anxiety about blood availability, and a corresponding reduction in the strain on national blood supplies.”
At the same time, Dr. Eleftheriou referred to Cyprus’s pioneering model of care and its strong international presence, highlighting its contribution to the creation of the International Thalassemia Federation, which has grown exponentially from 1985 to the present, now comprising 300 member organizations from 70 countries. Dr. Eleftheriou also focused on the new National Blood Strategy and the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the International Thalassemia Federation and the Cypriot Ministry of Health, which serves as a stable channel for scientific evidence and substantive dialogue, emphasizing that “active, structured cooperation between the government, the scientific community, and patient organizations is an essential prerequisite for ensuring equal access to innovation and the continuous improvement of patients’ well-being and autonomy.”
