Local scientists say they're the first in the world to uncover the structure of “factor eight,” a coagulation factor whose absence is associated with hemophilia.

The Green Cross said Monday it had made the discovery while working with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in the U.S. city of Seattle.

The Green Cross said the discovery will advance the development of hemophilia treatments.

The recent finding will be published in the February edition of Blood Journal, the bimonthly medical journal published by the American Society of Hematology.