I recently noticed that our healthcare providers offer virtual visits as part of our current insurance. I was fortunate last week to attend an event hosted by the Virginia Quality Healthcare Network. The presentation featured a talk on telehealth by Dr. Karen Rheuban, co-founder and director of…

Combining two gene editing approaches in cells derived from a patient with severe hemophilia A successfully restored the levels and activity of the faulty clotting factor VIII (FVIII) and reduced bleedings in a mouse model of the disease, according to a new study. The research, “ssODN-Mediated…

A conversation Last night I dreamed that I spoke with my father. I asked him how he knew he had a bleed. Did his knee bubble like a soda? Was it tight, but not painful? I yearned for his input, but my alarm sounded before he was able…

Less frequent infusions with Jivi led to fewer bleedings, a greater ability to engage in physical and workplace activities, less vein damage, and better emotional well-being in men with severe hemophilia A compared to previous therapies used, participants in a Phase 2/3 trial largely agreed. “Exploring the Impact of…

Casebia’s two-stage gene therapy approach was successful in delivering the human gene coding for clotting factor VIII (FVIII) in a mouse model of hemophilia A, leading to stable and increasing levels of the factor, researchers said. “Our scientific team, led by Alan Brooks, Ph.D., have achieved a notable…

New data from clinical studies suggests that long-term preventive treatment of severe hemophilia A with Eloctate, or severe hemophilia B with Alprolix, increased quality of life and reduced annual bleeding rates. The data was presented in Melbourne, Australia at ISTH 2019, the 27th Congress of the International Society…

I am not merely a carrier of hemophilia. I am certainly not an asymptomatic carrier of hemophilia. I am not even a symptomatic carrier of hemophilia. I am a woman…

Health Canada has approved Esperoct, an engineered formulation of clotting factor VIII, for the treatment of hemophilia A in people of all ages. The approval covers prophylactic, or preventive treatment, on-demand use for controlling bleeding episodes, and use in reducing bleeding during surgery. Esperoct received similar approval…

When my son “MacDonald the Older” took over his care, I celebrated his accomplishment. “MacDonald the Younger” would not reach independence until many years after his older brother did, but reducing oversight of infusing to one child proved liberating. Before the Younger’s independence, my wife and I still actively participated…

Investigational gene therapy SB-525 can safely induce durable clotting factor VIII (FVIII) activity in patients with severe hemophilia A, preliminary data from the Phase 1/2 Alta clinical trial show. The trial’s most recent results were discussed at the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) 2019 Congress in…