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European Thrombosis and Haemostasis Alliance

ETHA

The European Thrombosis and Haemostasis Alliance (ETHA) is made up of eminent clinicians and researchers from European national and international societies representing those working in the field of thrombotic and bleeding disorders.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Tomislav Sokol (Member of the European Parliament)

14 Nov 2023 · Health topics

Meeting with Erik Poulsen (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and European Public Health Alliance

31 Aug 2023 · NCD

Meeting with Sara Cerdas (Member of the European Parliament)

9 Sept 2022 · Initiative on EU NCDs

Response to Interim evaluation of Horizon Europe

29 Jul 2022

The European Thrombosis and Haemostasis Alliance (ETHA) welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the interim evaluation of the Horizon Europe programme. We hope to see an improved focus on venous thromboembolism (VTE - an umbrella term for deep vein thrombosis & pulmonary embolism) in EU research programmes, for the following reasons. Given the importance of beating cancer in Europe and supporting cancer survivors, we would like to underline that cancer is a strong risk factor for developing thrombosis (blood clots). Research indicates that cancer patients have a 2- to 20-fold higher risk of developing VTE than non-cancer patients. VTE is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide; in Europe, estimates suggest there are approximately 544,000 VTE-related deaths every year and that further research is needed to obtain more accurate data. Cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT) remains the number one cause of death during chemotherapy and the second leading cause of all cancer deaths (after disease progression). A recent study conducted in Oklahoma County, USA, suggests that, when applying the local incidence rate to 2020 US population estimates, cancer-associated thrombosis is more common than all new cases of colorectal cancer in the USA in 2021 (as estimated by the National Cancer Institute) . Although potentially fatal, CAT is both preventable and treatable, provided it is caught in time: up to 60 percent of VTE cases occur during or after hospitalisation, making it a leading preventable cause of hospital death. Reducing the rate of VTE in cancer patients would reduce overall death and disability among cancer patients, while also reducing healthcare expenditure - and would decrease use of health care resources, as the overall annual cost of VTE is estimated to be between 1.5 and 2.2 billion EUR for the EU-27 and the UK. EU research funding has an essential role to play in tackling CAT as a cause of death and disability. In order to improve understanding of cancer, thrombosis, and the relationship between them, more funding is needed for studies into the basic scientific explanation of the link between cancer and blood clots. Blood clots are both an early warning sign and a side effect of cancer, and research into understanding the thrombotic mechanisms involved in the pathology of cancer cells and the host cells’ inflammatory response could uncover vital insights into combatting cancer. Closing the gaps in our scientific understanding of how blood clots form as cancers develop could help find new ways to detect and treat cancer and cancer-associated thrombosis. As thrombosis can affect patients with all types and stages of cancer, the EU’s efforts to beat cancer should include allocation of research funding to address the interplay between cancer and blood clotting throughout the patient journey. This measure could be lifesaving – both for current patients at risk of developing blood clots, and future patients who could receive early diagnosis through improved understanding of blood clots’ role as an early warning sign. Please find attached a copy of the above feedback with references included.
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Response to Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan

3 Mar 2020

The European Thrombosis and Haemostasis Alliance (ETHA) supports the overall objective of the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan (EBCP): to improve cancer care in the EU while reducing health inequalities. However, the EBCP can increase its impact significantly by also addressing horizontal risk factors – such as those posed by cancer-associated thrombosis, which affects prevention, diagnosis, treatment and outcomes for all cancers. Effective management of cancer comorbidities and complications is a shared concern, as demonstrated in the separate consultation response and 2019 Joint Statement of the Cancer Related Complications and Comorbidities Initiative, which includes the ETHA. Thrombosis is the formation of a potentially deadly blood clot(s) in an artery or vein. Cancer is a strong risk factor for developing thrombosis and thrombosis is an important early warning sign for cancer; cancer patients have a four-times higher risk than the general population of developing thrombosis. Cancer-associated thrombosis is a leading cause of mortality in cancer patients. The ETHA supports setting overall targets for the EBCP in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and the WHO target of reducing mortality from NCDs by 25 percent. Significantly reducing cancer mortality is impossible to achieve without stronger EU cooperation to address the increasing burden of NCDs due to ageing populations. Reducing the rate of comorbidities in cancer patients, such as cancer-associated thrombosis, would reduce overall death and disability among cancer patients and decrease the use of healthcare resources. The ETHA would also welcome policy actions that allow stronger linkages across scientific disciplines to reduce cancer mortality, because it would best address the impact of cross-cutting cancer complications. To achieve these targets, the ETHA suggests the following inclusions to the roadmap: 1. Early detection and diagnosis Blood clots are an important early warning sign for cancer and understanding this relationship better could greatly contribute to earlier diagnosis of people at risk of developing cancer. At the same time, thrombosis risk-assessment and appropriate prophylaxis in patients newly diagnosed with cancer can contribute to fewer life-threatening complications in cancer patients. 2. Treatment and care As cancer treatments have improved and survival rates increased, cancer patients often experience multiple comorbidities. It is thus essential that the EBCP address comorbidity and complications from cancer by emphasising patient safety interventions, by supporting knowledge and best practice sharing among EU Member States to inform clinical practice. 3. Quality of life for cancer patients, survivors and carers Cancer-associated thrombosis also contributes to chronic disability and loss of working days for cancer patients and survivors who experience non-fatal clots. As cancer patients have a higher recurrence risk of thrombosis than non-cancer patients, managing comorbidities and complications from cancer is of high importance for cancer patients’ quality of life, and shared best practices should reflect this. 4. Knowledge, data and scientific evidence The ETHA advocates for a portfolio approach of research instruments to improve understanding of the interplay between cancer and blood clotting at all stages of the patient journey. The ETHA also notes that proposed interventions such as risk-assessment and prophylaxis upon diagnosis can already be tackled with existing technologies, hence policy instruments must also focus on knowledge sharing. The ETHA therefore calls on the Commission to incorporate horizontal morbidity and mortality drivers for all cancers in the EBCP development. Tackling cancer-associated thrombosis will address patient safety interventions that extend beyond cancer, which is supportive of the broader societal objectives of the EBCP. Please see attached ETHA`s EU cancer mission statement.
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Response to MFF: 9th Framework Programme for Research and Innovation and Rules for Participation and Dissemination

23 Aug 2018

The European Thrombosis and Haemostasis Alliance (ETHA) welcomes the Commission`s proposal for the 9th Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (Horizon Europe) and its ambitious health research objectives. ETHA endorses the health research priorities under the Health Cluster under Pillar II on 'Global Challenges and industrial competitiveness' in the Commission`s proposal and welcomes especially the focus on prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases, tackling health inequalities and improving health system sustainability. As a top health challenge in the EU, conditions caused by blood clots, also known by the clinical term “thrombosis”, are the underlying cause of many cardiovascular disorders including heart attack, thromboembolic stroke and venous thromboembolism (VTE), and contributing factor in 1 in 4 deaths In Europe. In Europe, there are approximately 544,000 VTE-related deaths every year, 60% of which are the result of an undiagnosed blood clot. It is estimated that ca. 55 - 60% of all VTE cases are associated with hospital admission, making VTE the leading cause of preventable hospital death. Furthermore, VTE is estimated to cost EU health systems €1.5-2.2 billion each year in direct costs, however, when accounting for indirect costs such as disability and productive life years lost, it has been estimated that the total costs of VTE are as high as €13.2 billion each year. Thrombosis affects both women and men of all ages, races and ethnicities, with the risks increasing with age. Considering the current demographic trends in Europe and ageing populations, it is essential that the Horizon Europe programme enables EU countries to prepare for the future challenges of ageing populations, the increased demand for healthcare services and the associated costs that come with this. In the implementation of Horizon Europe, it is crucial the Commission prioritizes measure that can improve the sustainability of European health systems and to meet and surpass the global target of the World Health Organization by reducing premature deaths in the EU from non-communicable diseases – including cardiovascular diseases – by 28 percent by 2028. We therefore encourage the Commission to emphasize and support funding for medical research to advance the understanding, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of both bleeding and clotting disorders in order to help meet the World Health Assembly’s targets, as part of its identified health research priorities under Horizon Europe. The issue of thrombosis and hospital acquired VTE is a pan-European challenge that requires concerted action on the EU level. It is therefore critical that the Commission adopts an ambitious Horizon Europe which supports advancement in the field of thrombosis and haemostasis research to maximize its impact and to deliver on its ambitions. ABOUT ETHA The European Thrombosis and Haemostasis Alliance (ETHA) is made up of eminent clinicians and researchers from European national and international societies representing those working in the field of thrombotic and bleeding disorders. ETHA has come together to give the European thrombosis and haemostasis community an allied voice and provide input to EU health and patient safety strategies; make recommendations on EU research programme funding and encourage sharing and adoption of best practices in the treatment and prevention of thrombotic and bleeding disorders across Member States.
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