CSL Behring, which makes and researches medicines for rare respiratory conditions, is in Milan, Italy, to meet with world leaders in the field during the European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress. The event includes a symposium facilitated by CSL Behring.
This symposium, “Shaping the Future in Rare Lung Diseases: From Imaging to Patient Management,” on 11 September at 17:30 (5:30 p.m.) will cover lung fibrosis, interstitial lung disease, Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, unmet clinical needs, challenges in lung imaging and the Open Source Imaging Consortium (OSIC) database.
CSL Behring was a founding member of OSIC, a multidisciplinary consortium that is using machine learning to examine thousands of lung scans with the goal of improving patient outcomes. The initiative aims to gain new insights and predict disease trajectories for interstitial lung disease (ILD) and other rare lung diseases.
Two respiratory experts are chairing the symposium: Professor Marlies Wijsenbeek, Erasmus MC University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands and Dr. Simon Walsh, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom. The session also features two live Q&A sessions for discussion and exchange among participating experts.
ERS Congress attendees who visit CSL Behring’s booth can learn more about the rare condition Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, a genetic disease that impacts the lungs because a protective protein called Alpha 1 Antitrypsin (AAT) is lacking.
Alpha 1 Antitrypsin protein, which circulates in the blood, prevents lung damage due to inflammation. Without this protein, lungs may weaken over time, putting patients at increased risk for developing serious diseases, such as early-onset emphysema, which is often misdiagnosed as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). An abnormal amount of AAT in the liver can also cause liver disease.
To raise awareness about Alpha 1, the CSL Behring team is asking ERS Congress participants to log their steps while in Milan. Based on the step count from the “Walk for Alpha 1”, CSL Behring will make a donation to the nonprofit group, Team Alpha-1 Athlete. Team Alpha-1 Athlete encourages patients to be physically active and live full lives.
