Clinical outcomes of chronic myeloid leukaemia patients taking asciminib through a Managed Access Programme (MAP) in Australia.

Asciminib is a novel allosteric STAMP (specifically targets the ABL myristoyl pocket) inhibitor of the BCR::ABL1 oncogene. Real-world clinical outcomes of patients with tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-resistant/intolerant chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) in Australia on the Managed Access Programme for asciminib showed higher molecular responses for those with intolerance versus resistance ± intolerance to their last TKI. There remains a clinical need to improve outcomes in patients with CML who have resistance to multiple TKIs, especially in the ponatinib-pretreated cohort.

Continuous and differential improvement in worldwide access to hematopoietic cell transplantation: activity has doubled in a decade with a notable increase in unrelated and non-identical related donors.

Promoting access to and excellence in hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) by collecting and disseminating data on global HCT activities is one of the principal activities of the Worldwide Network for Blood and Marrow Transplantation, a non-governmental organization in working relations with the World Health Organization. HCT activities are recorded annually by member societies, national registries and individual centers including indication, donor type (allogeneic/autologous), donor match and stem cell source (bone marrow/peripheral blood stem cells/cord blood). In 2018, 1,768 HCT teams in 89 countries (6 World Health Organization regions) reported 93,105 (48,680 autologous and 44,425 allogeneic) HCT.

Hemolysis events in the phase 3 PEGASUS study of pegcetacoplan in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.

Patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) experience complement-mediated intravascular hemolysis leading to anemia, fatigue, and potentially life-threatening thrombotic complications. Pegcetacoplan, a C3 inhibitor, demonstrated sustained improvements in hematologic and clinical parameters in the phase 3 PEGASUS trial in patients with PNH who remained anemic despite C5 inhibitor therapy. The present post hoc analysis describes 26 hemolysis adverse events (AEs) experienced in 19 patients during pegcetacoplan therapy in PEGASUS and baseline patient characteristics potentially associated with increased hemolysis risk.

Management of acute breakthrough hemolysis with intensive pegcetacoplan dosing in patients with PNH.

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is characterized by complement-mediated intravascular hemolysis leading to anemia, fatigue, and potentially life-threatening thrombotic complications. Breakthrough hemolysis (BTH) was first described in patients with PNH treated with terminal complement C5 inhibitors when intravascular hemolysis reoccurred despite treatment. Pegcetacoplan, the first proximal complement C3 inhibitor, offers broad hemolysis control in patients with PNH.

Efficacy and safety of avatrombopag in combination with immunosuppressive therapy in treatment-naïve and relapsed/refractory severe aplastic anaemia: protocol for the DIAAMOND-Ava-FIRST and DIAAMOND-Ava-NEXT Bayesian Optimal Phase II trials.

Introduction: Immunosuppressive therapy (IST) with antithymocyte globulin (ATG) and ciclosporin is standard of care for patients with severe aplastic anaemia (sAA) not eligible or suitable for allogeneic stem cell transplant. While patients respond to IST, few achieve complete responses and a significant proportion are refractory or relapse. The addition of eltrombopag, a thrombopoietin-receptor agonist (TPO-A), to IST has been shown to improve haematological responses in sAA.

Australia and New Zealand consensus position statement: use of COVID-19 therapeutics in patients with haematological malignancies.

Despite widespread vaccination rates, we are living with high transmission rates of SARS-CoV-2. Although overall hospitalisation rates are falling, the risk of serious infection remains high for patients who are immunocompromised because of haematological malignancies. In light of the ongoing pandemic and the development of multiple agents for treatment, representatives from the Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand and infectious diseases specialists have collaborated on this consensus position statement regarding COVID-19 management in patients with haematological disorders.

Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of [F]FDG-PET/CT for investigation of persistent or recurrent neutropenic fever in high-risk haematology patients.

Background: A recent randomised trial demonstrated [F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography in combination with low-dose CT (FDG-PET/CT), compared to standard of care computed tomography (CT) imaging, positively impacted antimicrobial management and outcomes of acute leukaemia and haematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients with persistent and recurrent neutropenic fever. We conducted an economic evaluation from a healthcare perspective alongside the clinical trial.

Methods: Unit costs in Australian dollars were applied to all resources used (antimicrobials, diagnostic tests, ICU and hospital bed days).

The Australian Aplastic Anaemia and other Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes Registry.

The bone marrow failure syndromes (BMFS) are a diverse group of acquired and inherited diseases which may manifest in cytopenias, haematological malignancy and/or syndromic multisystem disease. Patients with BMFS frequently experience poor outcomes, and improved treatment strategies are needed. Collation of clinical characteristics and patient outcomes in a national disease-specific registry represents a powerful tool to identify areas of need and support clinical and research collaboration.

Real-World Experiences with Taliglucerase Alfa Home Infusions for Patients with Gaucher Disease: A Global Cohort Study.

Taliglucerase alfa is an enzyme replacement therapy approved for Gaucher disease. We assessed the duration/compliance/safety of such home infusions in commercial use in four countries where home infusion programs are available. The treatment duration/compliance study included 173 patients (Israel, 58; US, 61; Brazil, 48; Australia, 6) who received ≥1 taliglucerase alfa home infusion through 6/2021.

Long-term effectiveness of eculizumab: Data from the International PNH Registry.

Objectives: Data from the International PNH Registry (NCT01374360) were used to estimate the overall survival and first occurrence of thromboembolic events/major adverse vascular events (TEs/MAVEs) for eculizumab-treated patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) compared with a contemporaneous untreated cohort.

Methods: Patients enrolled in the Registry from March 16, 2007, to February 14, 2022, were included. Treated patients received eculizumab for >35 days; untreated patients did not receive eculizumab at any time.

Normalisation of haemoglobin and control of breakthrough haemolysis with increased frequency pegcetacoplan dosing in treated paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria.

Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinura is an acquired life-threatening haemolytic condition, which is generally well controlled with terminal complement blockade with eculizumab. Whilst almost all patients treated with terminal complement inhibitors develop extravascular haemolysis, only a small proportion of these results in symptomatic anaemia limiting their activities and requiring red cell transfusion. This case highlights the potential role for the C3 inhibitor, pegcetacoplan, in controlling both intravascular and extravascular haemolysis, and is the first case to report on the use of additional doses of pegcetacoplan to control breakthrough haemolysis.

Diagnosis and management of endothelial disorders following haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation is a mainstay of therapy for numerous malignant and nonmalignant diseases. Endothelial activation and dysfunction occur after stem cell transplantation, driven by various patient- and transplant-specific factors. This can manifest as one of the relatively uncommon endothelial injury syndromes, such as sinusoidal obstruction syndrome, transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy, idiopathic pneumonia syndrome, capillary leak syndrome, engraftment syndrome or posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome.

Rapid home therapy infusion of velaglucerase alfa in naïve patients with Gaucher disease.

Background: Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) has revolutionised the management of patients with Gaucher disease (GD). In 2018, we published the safety and efficacy of rapid 10-min infusion of velaglucerase alfa in previously treated patients, mostly on low-dose therapy.

Aim: To improve quality of life (QoL) for patients needing lifelong bi-weekly infusions by introducing a 10-min infusion instead of 1 h per label in patients naive to ERT and on high-dose therapy.