March is Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month (BDAM), and patients, caregivers, advocates, and supporters are working together to call attention to and provide resources for coping with the bleeding disorders estimated to affect more than 3 million people in the U.S. Bleeding disorders such as hemophilia, von Willebrand disease, and…

Lately, I’ve been feeling burned out in my day job as a virtual assistant. While it helps pay the bills, the tasks are sometimes repetitive, and I often long for something that keeps me motivated for longer. Sustaining motivation is a constant challenge for me, as I’m diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity…

A preventive treatment for hemophilia B called dalcinonacog alfa (DalcA) led to an increase of more than 12% in the levels of factor IX in two patients with severe disease treated in a Phase 2 trial, reaching the study’s main goal. Researchers also found no immune reaction against the therapy. Enrollment is…

Winter is one of my favorite seasons. I enjoy the crispness in the air and wearing sweatshirts and warm, fuzzy socks by the fireplace. My son Caeleb enjoys the same things about winter, but his hemophilia and chronic pain complicate his relationship with the season. The morning is the most…

Among its corporate goals for 2018 announced recently, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals said it will continue to clinically develop the investigational RNA therapy fitusiran to treat hemophilia. Fitusiran, also known as ALN-AT3SC, is an RNAi therapeutic agent that targets a protein called antithrombin — which inhibits blood clotting — while increasing production of the…

‘Tis that season again — not the one adorned with festive decorations and holiday cheer, but the one with the formidable task of selecting a health insurance plan from the marketplace at healthcare.gov. For those contending with hemophilia or other chronic health conditions, this annual ritual can be…

When your children move into adulthood, managing their bleeding disorder becomes their responsibility. I have worked hard to prepare my adult son. He says “adulting” is not fun. I laugh and tell him that he’s joined the club. He has ordered his own factor since middle school, but I…

Adding an antibody targeting the anticoagulant protein S to factor IX (FIX) replacement therapy accelerated blood clotting in samples from children with hemophilia B, including those with severe disease, a study showed. Greater production of the blood clotting protein thrombin also was seen in these samples, while blocking…

The Thanksgiving holiday is upon us. It’s my favorite time of year. Family feasts, playing games, going to the movies, and watching football are some of the traditions that many of us hold dear. One Thanksgiving tradition my family keeps is that each person at the dinner table…

This month has brought a holiday rush of hemophilia news on potential new treatments, studies, and acquisitions — all of which serve to raise hope during this solstice season, as we move past the shortest day of the year. Solstice can be a…