News

First, the bad news: If you’re one of the 30 million or so Americans with a rare disease, you probably have lower immunity to the novel coronavirus than most people. Now, the good news: You already know how to face loneliness and adversity — qualities that make you far stronger…

More opioids were prescribed to treat pain in adults and children with hemophilia than was reported in U.S. national datasets, a new study shows. As such use carries a risk for opioid‐related complications, hemophilia treatment centers (HTC) need to take a more active role in pain management…

Novo Nordisk reports that its treatments for hemophilia and other disorders remain available, and it is taking measures to support patients during the current COVID-19 pandemic. The company has large stock of medicines and expects to be able to meet pharmacy requests in the U.S. during the…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Sevenfact (coagulation factor VIIa [recombinant]-jncw) for the treatment and control of spontaneous bleeding episodes in people, ages 12 and older, with hemophilia A or B with inhibitors. Hemophilia, a genetic disorder, affects the body’s ability to make blood…

Although obese people with hemophilia — as well as their spouses and caregivers — are aware of the risks of excessive weight, fewer than half are actively taking steps to lose weight, a new study shows. Better support and education about weight management would be beneficial for those patients, the…

The Living Rare, Living Stronger Patient and Family Forum, originally set for May 14–16 in Cleveland, Ohio, has been postponed until July 18–20 because of the coronavirus disease COVID-19 pandemic. The event’s sponsor, the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD),…

Ixinity remains readily available to treat people with hemophilia B despite the current COVID-19 outbreak, Medexus Pharmaceuticals has announced. The company, which acquired Ixinity from Aptevo Therapeutics, also said it will continue working to ensure continued supply throughout the pandemic. “We would like to reassure the patients…

A Phase 3 clinical trial investigating gene therapy candidate AMT-061 (etranacogene dezaparvovec) has reached its target of dosing 50 participants with moderate or severe hemophilia B. In fact, according to AMT-061 developer uniQure, 54 patients have been given the one-time dose of AMT-061 in the HOPE-B…

Gene therapy delivering the blood clotting factor VIII (FVIII) — whose lack causes hemophilia A — into the joints did better at protecting against hemophilic arthropathy (joint damage) than did administration into the bloodstream, a study in mice suggests. Its findings support the potential use of FVIII injected directly into…

Endothelial cells — those that line the inside of blood vessels — derived from stem cells of people with hemophilia A and modified to produce functional factor VIII were able to ease blood loss in a mouse model of the disease, a study reported. These findings support the potential of induced…