The Assistance Fund Now Offering Financial Help to Eligible Fabry Disease Patients

To help reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses associated with managing and treating Fabry disease, an independent charitable patient assistance foundation has now added the disorder to its programs.

Called The Assistance Fund (TAF), the organization assists eligible patients with insurance co-payments, coinsurance, deductibles, and other health-related expenses.

Fabry disease is a rare genetic disorder caused by mutations in the GLA gene, which provides instructions for the production of an enzyme called alpha-galactosidase A (α-GAL A). These mutations typically affect the function of α-GAL A, leading to the accumulation of a type of fat called globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) in several tissues and organs.

“People living with Fabry disease may face a number of complications,” Mark P. McGreevy, TAF’s president and CEO, said in a press release. “Treatments for disease management and serious complications resulting from Fabry disease may come with significant out-of-pocket costs to the patient.”

Jerry Walter, founder and president of the National Fabry Disease Foundation (NFDF), said he’s excited that TAF will extend its support to those living with Fabry.

“With a definitive lab test to diagnose Fabry disease and two approved treatment options available in the U.S., children should not have to suffer a diminished quality of life and adults should not be at risk of premature death due to heart disease, kidney disease and strokes because they cannot access appropriate healthcare,” he said. “We thank The Assistance Fund for joining our fight to live better and longer lives.”

In the United States, the two available treatment options are Amicus Therapeutics‘ Galafold (migalastat) and an enzyme replacement therapy — Fabrazyme (agalsidase beta), developed by Sanofi Genzyme.

For TAF eligibility guidelines, click here or call 855-253-9223 to speak with a patient advocate. Patients may apply online by downloading documents. Among other information, the organization requires household size, insurance coverage and citizenship information to determine eligibility.

The NFDF is an organization dedicated to supporting the Fabry disease community through education, research, better detection and diagnoses, advocacy, and other forms of assistance.

More than 40 diseases are covered by TAF, which, since 2009, has helped roughly 73,000 children and adults get the approved medicines they need to remain healthy or manage a condition. For more information or to donate, go here.