News

A hemophilia gene therapy developed by Spark Therapeutics and Pfizer nearly eliminated bleeding episodes in 10 patients who took part in a Phase 1/2 trial. The treatment, SPK-9001, worked so well in eight of the 10 that they were able to stop taking clotting factor replacements. Researchers published the preliminary trial…

Shire and Rani Therapeutics have partnered to investigate the use of oral Rani Pill technology as the carrier system for clotting factor VIII in hemophilia A patients. As part of Shire’s commitment, the Irish pharmaceutical company made an equity investment in Rani. Under the agreement — whose terms weren’t…

Injection of Hemlibra (emicizumab-KXWH) every four weeks helps control bleeding in hemophilia A patients, an interim analysis of the Phase 3 HAVEN 4 study shows. The results, announced by Genentech, are in agreement with several previous clinical trials – HAVEN 1 (NCT02622321),…

Physical function assessment can be a good predictor of lower bone mineral density and osteoporosis development associated with hemophilia, according to a report published in the American Journal of Blood Research. Therapies to treat hemophilia made available in the past decades have significantly improved patients’ outcomes. This extended survival…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an update to the label of Alprolix, based on long-term efficacy and safety data from two Phase 3 studies, the B-YOND extension trial and the Kids B-LONG pediatric study, manufacturer Bioverativ announced. This label extension, which adds pediatric data, further supports…

Nuwiq, a fourth-generation genetically engineered version of blood-clotting factor VIII, is a safe and effective way of controlling bleeding in people with severe hemophilia A during and after surgery, a study reports. The research, “Efficacy and safety of Nuwiq® (human-cl rhFVIII) in patients with severe haemophilia A undergoing…

Administration of once-weekly Hemlibra (emicizumab-kxwh) significantly reduced bleeding rates in patients with Hemophilia A compared to other clotting factor VIII prophylaxis (preventive) therapy, according to the latest results of the Phase 3 HAVEN 3 study announced by Roche. Developed by Chugai Pharmaceutical, Roche, and Genentech,…

Officials of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals have agreed on safety measures and a “risk mitigation strategy” to allow the resumption of clinical studies of fitusiran, the company said in a recent press release. All ongoing trials of fitusiran had been suspended after the Sept. 7 death…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently granted orphan drug status to rofecoxib (TRM-201), an non-opioid investigational pain treatment for hemophilic arthropathy (HA, a hemophilia degenerative joint disease) under development by Tremeau Pharmaceuticals. Rofecoxib is a COX-2 selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) with a well-established efficacy profile. It…

The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) says it’s “disappointed and dismayed” after the House of Representatives voted 227-205 last week to repeal the Orphan Drug Tax Credit as part of a U.S. tax reform package. A similar package before the Senate Finance Committee does not repeal the credit…