New research suggests that the main developmental role of heterochromatin, a form of dense DNA found in chromosomes, is to suppress virus-like DNA elements known as “jumping genes” from replicating and attaching themselves across a person’s genome, potentially destroying important genes and causing a variety of diseases, including hemophilia and cancer. The study, by University of North Carolina…
News
Sangamo BioSciences announced that its zinc finger nuclease (ZFN)-mediated genome editing product, SB-FIX, has received orphan drug designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), speeding its development as a potential treatment for hemophilia B. Sangamo plans to initiate a Phase 1/2 clinical trial, SB-FIX-1501, in adults with this disease later…
The World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) has created a universal case report form for the collection of core data on hemophilic patients in a standardized format that will include relevant diagnosis, therapies, and outcome. Previous WFH forms provided only an overview of the number of patients and access to treatment.
A number of clinical studies have reported that bone marrow-derived cells contribute to the production of clotting factor VIII (FVIII), the molecule linked to hemophilia A. Because the current treatment for this bleeding disorder is associated with some disadvantages and risk, hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) has become an emerging therapy approach…
Researchers in India recently reported the case of child with hemophilia and traumatic intracerebellar hemorrhage, who was successfully treated with transfusions of plasma. They recommend a conservative approach as a first line of treatment, before more invasive alternatives such as surgery. The case report, “Intracerebellar haemorrage in a haemophilia child,” was published in…
In hemophilia A, the most significant therapeutic complication is the development of antibodies against factor VIII (FVIII) that inhibit its coagulant activity and make the therapy ineffective. The plasma-derived porcine FVIII product represents a therapy with low levels of autoantibodies and successful management of bleeding when compared to human plasma-derived products.
CSL Behring’s rVIII-SingleChain, a novel recombinant Factor VIII (rFVIII) treatment candidate, recently demonstrated effectiveness in surgery and in the control of bleeding in patients with severe hemophilia A. The Phase 1 to Phase 3 clinical trial results, recently published in the journal Blood, also demonstrated low annualized bleeding rates in patients…
Patient treatment for hemophilia B has come a long way since the introduction of factor IX (FIX) concentrates. In a recent commentary published in the journal Blood and titled “A new era for hemophilia B treatment,” researchers from Oregon Health and Science University and Bloodworks Northwest highlighted recent advances in…
Hemophilia A patients who receive replacement therapies of factor VIII often develop inhibitors against factor concentrates which hinders the effectiveness of the therapy, increases disability, and reduces quality of life. Although immune tolerance induction (ITI) can reduce inhibitors against factor VIII concentrates, the study “Long-term course of…
Ruptured spleens are rare in newborns, usually occurring secondary to an underlying coagulation disorder, such as hemophilia, or a splenic abnormality. Here, researchers report the first case of a newborn with a spontaneous splenic rupture and severe hemophilia A who was successfully treated without surgical intervention. The case study, “…
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