Lindsey Shapiro, PhD, science writer —

Real-world use of the extended half-life factor replacement therapy Elocta (efmoroctocog alfa) was associated with better bleed control than standard half-life products among people with hemophilia A, according to findings from an observational study in Europe. Elocta, sold as Eloctate in the U.S., was also associated with fewer…

A gene therapy designed to provide hemophilia A patients with a highly functional version of factor VIII (FVIII), the blood clotting protein they lack, could offer more sustained bleed control than existing gene therapies, preclinical research suggests. The current approach in hemophilia A gene therapy is to provide a…

A team of U.S. researchers has developed a new gene-editing strategy that could make the approach safer and more efficient for treating certain diseases, such as hemophilia. In preclinical studies, the gene-editing technique was shown to enable fast and efficient delivery of healthy genetic material to cells, while bypassing…

The incidence of acquired hemophilia A (AHA) was nearly twice as high in Hong Kong than in Caucasian populations previously observed, a study found. Patients in Hong Kong tended to be older and have co-existing medical conditions, with age being a significant predictor of mortality and failure to achieve…

In an effort to cut costs and boost profitability, Biomarin Pharmaceutical is limiting commercial development of hemophilia A gene therapy Roctavian (valoctocogene roxaparvovec-rvox) to three countries: the U.S., Germany, and Italy. The company has struggled to turn a profit from the gene therapy, which was approved in…

In a reversal of a previous recommendation, the U.K.’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended that the National Health Service (NHS), England’s publicly funded health insurance program, should offer reimbursement for Hemgenix (etranacogene dezaparvovec) to eligible adults with hemophilia B. Reimbursement would come through…

Pfizer is preparing to launch its hemophilia B gene therapy Beqvez (fidanacogene elaparvovec-dzkt) after securing a U.S. approval for the treatment last month. Beqvez is the second gene therapy to be approved for adults with moderate to severe hemophilia B in the U.S., following the clearance of…

Gentle electrical stimulation may help liver cells uptake gene therapies, such as those used to treat hemophilia, according to new research by a team of U.S. scientists. In lab studies, the team found that liver cells exposed to a brief electrical field more easily took up a viral carrier,…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Labcorp’s companion diagnostic test for detecting preexisting antibodies against the viral carrier that’s used in Beqvez (fidanacogene elaparvovec-dzkt), Pfizer’s recently approved gene therapy for hemophilia B. A negative result on an FDA-cleared test is needed to be eligible…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the one-time gene therapy fidanacogene elaparvovec for treating certain adults with moderate to severe hemophilia B. The therapy will be sold under the name Beqvez as it is in Canada, where it was approved for a similar indication this…