CHESHIRE, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALXN) today announced the presentation of new data that underscore the severity of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), a debilitating, ultra-rare and life-threatening blood disorder. PNH is characterized by chronic, uncontrolled complement activation leading to hemolysis (red blood cell destruction), which is measured by the presence of higher than normal levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) through routine laboratory testing. The new data include an analysis from the South Korean National Registry showing that hemolysis, as measured by LDH serum level at diagnosis, is a strong and independent predictor of severe complications, including early death in patients with PNH.1 In another study, data confirmed the importance of screening high-risk patients for PNH to ensure that they are accurately diagnosed and can receive early intervention. These data were presented at the 53rd American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition in San Diego.
