Baxter International Inc.,  a global, diversified healthcare company,  collaborates with the International Patient Organisation for Primary Immunodeficiencies (IPOPI) to advance the global state of care for primary immunodeficiencies (PI).

PI is a large group of disorders in which part of the body's immune system is missing or does not function properly, resulting in frequent infections and increased risk of life-threatening complications. It is estimated that as many as six million people are affected by PI worldwide.

World PI Week, for which Baxter was the founding sponsor and remains the lead supporter, is led by a consortium of clinical societies, patient organizations and research foundations from around the world, aiming to raise awareness and improve the diagnosis and treatment for people with PI.

As part of Baxter's commitment to supporting the global PI community, the company is working with IPOPI to support the implementation of ''Primary Immune Deficiencies - Principles of Care,'' a landmark document developed by an interdisciplinary working group of leading clinician experts in PI that was recently published in Frontiers of Immunology.

The paper addresses key principles of optimal care for PI, including the importance of access to early diagnosis and specialist care, the critical role of specialized centers and patient support groups, the importance of registries and need for international collaborations for scientific research, and advancing treatment options.

''The Principles of Care document is a call to action for healthcare policy makers to join us in taking strong and decisive action to ensure that people with primary immune deficiency disorders are diagnosed early and have access to treatment options and optimal care throughout the world,'' said Johan Prevot, executive director of IPOPI.

''Baxter's support will help IPOPI ensure this document is accessible and more easily utilized as the global patient community seeks implementation of these principles at the national level.''

Baxter has a long history of global leadership in advancing the quality of care for primary immune deficiency disorders.

Baxter supports efforts to improve awareness and diagnosis of PI in the United States through its ImmunoView program, which provides patients with diagnostic and educational resources, as well as through active sponsorship of patient organizations around the globe.

Further, the company focuses on the needs of the PI community by developing new treatments, including HYQVIA, a product consisting of immune globulin infusion 10% (Human) and Recombinant Human Hyaluronidasem, developed by Halozyme Therapeutics.

The immune globulin component, a 10% solution that is prepared from large pools of human plasma consisting of at least 98% IgG, contains a broad spectrum of antibodies and provides the therapeutic effect. The Recombinant Human Hyaluronidase of HYQVIA increases dispersion and absorption of the immune globulin infusion 10% (Human).

HYQVIA with Recombinant Human Hyaluronidase), a once-monthly subcutaneous treatment for adult patients with PI recently launched in Europe and the United States.

 ''As the founding sponsor of World PI Week and a long-standing contributor to the PI community, Baxter has dedicated its efforts to advance care and address the individualized needs of people with primary immune deficiencies through product innovation as well as patient support programs in the United States,'' said Ron Lloyd, leader of Baxter's immunology organization.

''We continue to seek new ways to address the needs of patients, families and the global community with new treatments and solutions that aim to reduce the burden of PI worldwide.''

World PI Week offers an opportunity to inform and educate medical professionals, researchers, health policy-makers, schools and families, and the general public about primary immunodeficiencies (PI). Through events and activities promoting the warning signs of PI, the global PI community is making positive changes around the world in support of people living with PI.

Organizations actively involved in World PI Week include the African Society for Immunodeficiencies (ASID), the Latin American Society for Immunodeficiencies (LASID), the European Society for Immunodeficiencies (ESID), the International Patient Organisation for Primary Immunodeficiencies (IPOPI), the Jeffrey Modell Foundation (JMF), the European Federation of Immunological Societies (EFIS), the International Nursing Group for Immunodeficiencies (INGID), Immunodeficiency Canada, the Immune Deficiency Foundation (IDF), the Clinical Immunology Society (CIS), and the Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA).