From Touchdowns to Touching Lives: Football Superstar Tiki Barber Aims to Make a 'Giant' Difference for Children and Their Families Coping With Sickle Cell Disease

EAST HANOVER, N.J., July 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Tiki Barber, education advocate and one of the most versatile players in National Football League history, today kicked off a new national education campaign called Be Sickle Smart: Ask Tiki about Iron. Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a serious, life-long blood disorder that can increase a child's risk for stroke and affects an estimated one in 500 African Americans.

Tiki is partnering with Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation to educate patients and their families about SCD and iron overload, a consequence of repeated blood transfusions that are a standard treatment to help reduce the complications of SCD in some patients. In SCD, red blood cells become deformed and can block blood vessels. In 2004, the Stroke Prevention Trial in Sickle Cell Anemia (STOP II) conducted by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute found that continued blood transfusions help prevent the risk of stroke (a disruption of blood flow to the brain) in some children with SCD. However, regular blood transfusions can cause too much iron to build up in the body and damage key organs such as the liver or heart.

While SCD is the most common inherited blood disorder in the U.S., for years there has been a lack of public understanding and knowledge about the condition, which may offer few outward signs that a child or adult is truly suffering. Children with SCD often miss school and cannot participate in physical activities because of challenges such as severe pain episodes or regular therapy with blood transfusions. Loss of classroom time because of illness is the most common cause of poor school performance in children with SCD.

"I'm determined to get the message out that it's really important for people with sickle cell disease who get transfusions to know about the health risks of having excess iron, and to talk to their doctor if they might be at risk," said Barber. "Through this initiative, we want to educate patients and their families about SCD and iron overload so they're empowered to take an active role in their health -- knowledge is the key."

Barber, a role model on and off the field, is a long-time health, education and literacy champion who has devoted much time to a variety of charities that improve children's lives. He has raised over $1 million dollars for the Children's Miracle Network, and he is a Leadership Council member for the Robin Hood Foundation, which combats poverty in New York City. Along with his brother Ronde, he has also written a series of successful children's books -- including "Game Day" in 2005 -- that emphasize the values of teamwork, family, dedication and determination.

Go to AskTiki.com to learn more, or call 1-877-SCD-TIKI (723-8454) to request free information.

About Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell disease affects about 72,000 people in the United States, primarily African Americans. There is no cure for SCD. People are born with it and it lasts a lifetime.

SCD causes pain, can damage tissues and organs and lead to stroke if the blockage occurs in the brain. Sickle cells die much more quickly than normal red blood cells. Thus, the blood is chronically short of red blood cells, a condition known as anemia. While there is no cure for SCD, early diagnosis can help people live longer, healthier and more productive lives.

"Blood transfusions are an important part of the care for people with SCD, as they contribute to patients' health maintenance. But one of the serious complications of these transfusions is the cumulative build-up of excess iron in the body from as few as 10 blood transfusions, and continued transfusions over time may lead to toxic levels of iron in the body," said Willarda V. Edwards, MD, MBA, president and chief operating officer of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA). "Iron overload has no symptoms, and if left undiagnosed and untreated, it can be life-threatening."

About Iron Overload

Frequent blood transfusions have been shown to prolong survival and improve quality of life in patients with various underlying blood disorders such as SCD. However, with every blood transfusion, a patient also receives iron, a key part of each red blood cell. The only effective drug therapy to remove the excess iron and prevent the complications of iron overload is an iron chelator -- a substance that binds to iron in the body and helps remove it through the urine and/or feces. In some cases, the need for transfusion and chelation lasts a lifetime.

About Novartis

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation researches, develops, manufactures and markets leading innovative prescription drugs used to treat a number of diseases and conditions, including central nervous system disorders, organ transplantation, cardiovascular diseases, dermatological diseases, respiratory disorders, cancer and arthritis. The company's mission is to improve people's lives by pioneering novel healthcare solutions.

Located in East Hanover, New Jersey, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation is an affiliate of Novartis AG -- a world leader in pharmaceuticals and consumer health. In 2005, the Group's businesses achieved sales of USD 32.2 billion and pro forma net income of USD 6.1 billion. The Group invested approximately USD 4.8 billion in R&D. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis Group companies employ approximately 96,000 people and operate in over 140 countries around the world. For further information please consult http://www.novartis.com/.

Media contact Kim Fox Novartis Oncology +1 862 778 7692 (direct) kim.fox@novartis.com