News

A new type of gene therapy that uses RNA instead of DNA led to rapid and prolonged production of therapeutic levels of factor VIII (FVIII) in a mouse model of hemophilia A, a study reported. The study, “Treatment of…

Infection by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the coronavirus causing COVID-19, can induce the onset of acquired hemophilia A (AHA), a case report has found. As such, blood coagulation should be monitored closely in patients hospitalized for COVID-19, scientists said. The study, “…

While the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic won’t have much of an impact on cash available for new biotech startups, it has begun to cause delays in the development of gene therapies to treat a variety of rare diseases. That’s the consensus of industry experts who spoke in a May 26 webinar…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Expression Therapeutics‘ request to open a Phase 1 trial of ET3, an investigational gene therapy for people with hemophilia A. The decision followed a review of the company’s investigational new drug application (IND) requesting clearance of ET3…

European authorities must step up efforts to screen babies for a multitude of genetic disorders, a panel of experts suggested during a May 14-15 online medical conference. The session was part of the 10th European Conference on Rare Diseases & Orphan Products (ECRD2020) — which was to have occurred…

Novo Nordisk has issued a notice warning healthcare professionals that the hemophilia B treatment Rebinyn (nonacog beta pegol, or N9-GP) can interfere with some laboratory tests that measure blood coagulation. Following reports that people with severe COVID-19 may develop a blood-clotting condition similar to…

Dara Riva always had a rule that her 10-year-old son could play video games only once a week. But then the COVID-19 pandemic struck, and her perspective changed. Riva’s son, Maximilian, has cystic fibrosis (CF), making him particularly susceptible to COVID-19 and the complications that can arise from it.

Long-term treatment with Rebinyn (nonacog beta pegol, or N9-GP) is safe and effective at preventing and treating spontaneous bleeds in previously treated children, 12 or younger, with severe hemophilia B, five-year data from a Phase 3 trial show. The findings were reported in a study, “…

Eurordis, a Paris-based coalition of national rare disease associations across Europe, hosted its first all-virtual conference, bringing some 1,500 delegates from 57 countries together online during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 10th European Conference on Rare Diseases & Orphan Products (ECRD2020) — which was set for May 14–15 in…

Three hemophilia B patients said they were able to lead a relatively normal life, including being more active and participating in sports, about three years after receiving the investigational gene therapy AMT-060 in a clinical trial. Their experiences were reported in the study, “The Patient…