IRELAND - THE DISCOVERY that a haemophiliac who died in Britain last year had evidence of variant CJD or vCJD infection has led to just over 30 people ringing a helpline specifically set up to respond to the issue. The helpline was aimed at people who had received UK-derived plasma products or had concerns about blood products they received. Two information meetings were held in Dublin and Cork at the weekend to further allay concerns and were attended by a handful of people. It emerged two weeks ago that the elderly man, who did not die from vCJD, was infected from a UK plasma-derived product known as Factor VIII. Haemophilia and related bleeding disorders are caused by a lack of clotting factors and are treated by products containing clotting factor concentrate such as Factor VIII. Since the late 1990s, Ireland has been using a synthetic clotting concentrate. On hearing the details of the man’s death, the National Haemophilia director Dr Barry White and the Irish Haemophilia Society’s Brian O’Mahony wrote to the 50 Irish patients who had received UK plasma-derived products to inform them of developments. Only two of those had received a product that was subsequently identified as being at risk of vCJD. Thousands of people in the UK have received products where some of the donors developed vCJD, but none of the recipients have developed symptoms. There have been 167 cases of vCJD in the UK and four in Ireland since the link between eating infected meat and a new variant of CJD was made in the mid-1990s. Some nine people who died of vCJD in the UK had donated blood for the manufacture of clotting factor concentrates.
Mr. Tidmore has served as a member of Orthovita’s Board of Directors since 2007 and has over 20 years of experience in the spine and orthopedic industry. He was formerly President and Chairman of DePuy Acromed, as well as President of DePuy, which was acquired by Johnson & Johnson in 1999. Mr. Tidmore held various senior management positions during his tenure of over 14 years with Depuy, including leadership roles for international businesses with direct operational responsibilities across Europe, Latin America, Japan and Canada. Prior to that, Mr. Tidmore held several management positions at Ethicon, Inc., including Vice President of Sales and Marketing in Canada.
Mr. Fitzgerald, who had served since 2003 as Orthovita’s Chairman of the Board and as a member of the Board of Directors of ArthroCare Corp. (OTC:ARTC.PK), submitted his resignation to the Company due to his recent appointment as Acting President and Chief Executive Officer of ArthroCare. His decision to resign from Orthovita’s Board was based on the change in his role at ArthroCare to a senior executive, in recognition of the time commitment and possible business conflicts associated with this position.
“Dave has been an outstanding Chairman at Orthovita who has played an important role in the Company’s success throughout the years,” said Antony Koblish, President and Chief Executive Officer of Orthovita. “Under his guidance, Orthovita significantly increased sales, completed several key equity and debt financings, acquired marketing rights for two hemostasis products and made substantial progress in product development. We appreciate Dave’s contributions and he will be missed. We look forward to solid leadership from Bill Tidmore and the contributions that his extensive experience in the orthopedic and spine industry will bring.”
