Efficacy, safety, and quality of life 4 years after valoctocogene roxaparvovec gene transfer for severe hemophilia A in the phase 3 GENEr8-1 trial.

Background: Valoctocogene roxaparvovec, an adeno-associated virus-mediated gene therapy for severe hemophilia A, enables endogenous factor (F)VIII expression and provides bleed protection.

Objectives: Determine valoctocogene roxaparvovec durability, efficacy, and safety 4 years after treatment.

Methods: In the phase 3 GENEr8-1 trial, 134 adult male persons with severe hemophilia A without inhibitors and previously using FVIII prophylaxis received a 6 × 10 vg/kg infusion of valoctocogene roxaparvovec.

Valoctocogene roxaparvovec gene therapy provides durable haemostatic control for up to 7 years for haemophilia A.

Introduction: Valoctocogene roxaparvovec is an adeno-associated virus vector serotype 5 (AAV5)-mediated gene therapy approved for severe haemophilia A (HA).

Aim: To report the safety and efficacy of valoctocogene roxaparvovec 7 years after dosing in a phase 1/2 clinical study (NCT02576795).

Methods: Males ≥18 years with severe HA (factor VIII [FVIII] ≤1 international unit [IU]/dL) who were previously receiving exogenous FVIII and had no history of FVIII inhibitors or anti-AAV5 antibodies received valoctocogene roxaparvovec treatment and were followed for 7 (6 × 10 vg/kg; n = 7) and 6 (4 × 10 vg/kg; n = 6) years.

Taipan snake venom time has high sensitivity for lupus anticoagulants in non-anticoagulated, triple positive antiphospholipid syndrome patients.

Introduction: Dilute Russell's viper venom time (dRVVT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) are the mainstay assays in lupus anticoagulant (LA) detection yet they have limitations, particularly in relation to interferences and specificity. The recently validated Taipan snake venom time (TSVT) screening with ecarin time (ET) confirmatory assays overcome many of those limitations due to the innate specificity engendered from direct prothrombin activation, and insensitivity to the effects of vitamin K antagonists (VKA). The present study aimed to further evidence diagnostic utility of TSVT/ET by performing them in samples from 116 nonanticoagulated patients with established triple-positive antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).

Diagnosis and laboratory monitoring of acquired hemophilia A.

Acquired hemophilia A (AHA) is a rare disorder in which autoantibodies against factor VIII (FVIII) lead to a bleeding phenotype that varies from life-threatening to no bleeding at all. Prolonged activated partial thromboplastin times (APTT) in patients with a bleeding phenotype should be investigated to rule out AHA and should never be ignored in a preprocedure patient. Most inhibitors in AHA are heat and time dependent, so mixing studies performed only on an immediate mix are not useful: both lupus anticoagulants and treatment with direct oral anticoagulants can coexist with AHA and confound the diagnosis.

Triple-positive antiphospholipid syndrome does not guarantee positivity in each lupus anticoagulant assay.

Background: Triple positivity for all 3 criteria antiphospholipid antibodies confers high risk of symptom development in carriers, and recurrence in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Most triple-positivity studies report lupus anticoagulant (LA) testing as positive without distinguishing between positivity with dilute Russell's viper venom time (dRVVT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and single-assay positivity or only perform dRVVT. Single LA assay repertoires remain in use in some centers, which risks missing some triple positives.

Considerations for shared decision management in previously untreated patients with hemophilia A or B.

Unlabelled: Recent advances in therapeutics are now providing a wide range of options for adults and children living with hemophilia. Although therapeutic choices are also increasing for the youngest individuals with severe disease, challenges remain about early management decisions, as supporting data are currently limited. Parents and healthcare professionals are tasked with helping children achieve an inclusive quality of life and maintain good joint health into adulthood.

International consensus recommendations on the management of people with haemophilia B.

Haemophilia B is a rare X-linked genetic deficiency of coagulation factor IX (FIX) that, if untreated, can cause recurrent and disabling bleeding, potentially leading to severe arthropathy and/or life-threatening haemorrhage. Recent decades have brought significant improvements in haemophilia B management, including the advent of recombinant FIX and extended half-life FIX. This therapeutic landscape continues to evolve with several non-factor replacement therapies and gene therapies under investigation.

PERSEPT 3: A phase 3 clinical trial to evaluate the haemostatic efficacy of eptacog beta (recombinant human FVIIa) in perioperative care in subjects with haemophilia A or B with inhibitors.

Introduction: Surgical procedures in persons with haemophilia A or B with inhibitors (PwHABI) require the use of bypassing agents (BPA) and carry a high risk of complications. Historically, only two BPAs have been available; these are reported to have variable responses.

Aim: To prospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new bypassing agent, human recombinant factor VIIa (eptacog beta) in elective surgical procedures in PwHABI in a phase 3 clinical trial, PERSEPT 3.

Delivery of AAV-based gene therapy through haemophilia centres-A need for re-evaluation of infrastructure and comprehensive care: A Joint publication of EAHAD and EHC.

Introduction: Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapy for haemophilia presents a challenge to the existing structure of haemophilia centres and requires a rethink of current collaboration and information exchange with the aim of ensuring a system that is fit-for-purpose for advanced therapies to maximise benefits and minimise risks. In Europe, a certification process based on the number of patients and facilities is offered to the haemophilia centres by European Haemophilia Network (EUHANET).

Aim And Methods: This joint European Association for Haemophilia and Allied Disorders (EAHAD) and European Haemophilia Consortium (EHC) publication describes criteria for centres participating in gene therapy care that require a reassessment of the infrastructure of comprehensive care and provides an outlook on how these criteria can be implemented in the future work of haemophilia centres.

International multicenter, multiplatform study to validate Taipan snake venom time as a lupus anticoagulant screening test with ecarin time as the confirmatory test: Communication from the ISTH SSC Subcommittee on Lupus Anticoagulant/Antiphospholipid Antibodies.

Background: Lupus anticoagulant (LA) assays are compromised in anticoagulated patients, and existing strategies to overcome the interferences have limitations. The prothrombin-activating Taipan snake venom time (TSVT) screening test and ecarin time (ET) confirmatory test are innately insensitive to vitamin K antagonists (VKA) and direct factor Xa inhibitors (DFXaI).

Objectives: Validate standardized TSVT/ET reagents for LA detection, in a multicenter, multiplatform study.

Haemophilia.

Haemophilia A and B are rare congenital, recessive X-linked disorders caused by lack or deficiency of clotting factor VIII (FVIII) or IX (FIX), respectively. The severity of the disease depends on the reduction of levels of FVIII or FIX, which are determined by the type of the causative mutation in the genes encoding the factors (F8 and F9, respectively). The hallmark clinical characteristic, especially in untreated severe forms, is bleeding (spontaneous or after trauma) into major joints such as ankles, knees and elbows, which can result in the development of arthropathy.

Treatment-related risk factors for inhibitor development in non-severe hemophilia A after 50 cumulative exposure days: A case-control study.

Background: Non-severe hemophilia A patients have a life-long inhibitor risk. Yet, no studies have analyzed risk factors for inhibitor development after 50 factor VIII (FVIII) exposure days (EDs).

Objectives: This case-control study investigated treatment-related risk factors for inhibitor development in non-severe hemophilia A and assessed whether these risk factors were different for early versus late inhibitor development.

Validation of a perioperative population factor VIII pharmacokinetic model with a large cohort of pediatric hemophilia a patients.

Aims: Population pharmacokinetic (PK) models are increasingly applied to perform individualized dosing of factor VIII (FVIII) concentrates in haemophilia A patients. To guarantee accurate performance of a population PK model in dose individualization, validation studies are of importance. However, external validation of population PK models requires independent data sets and is, therefore, seldomly performed.

Factor VIII/IX inhibitor testing practices in the United Kingdom: Results of a UKHCDO and UKNEQAS national survey.

Introduction: Inhibitor formation is the greatest challenge facing persons with haemophilia treated with factor concentrates. The gold standard testing methodologies are the Nijmegen-Bethesda assay (NBA) for FVIII and Bethesda assay (BA) for FIX inhibitors, which are affected by pre-analytical and inter-laboratory variability.

Aims: To evaluate inhibitor testing methodology and assess correlation between self-reported and actual methodology.

Novel manifestations of immune dysregulation and granule defects in gray platelet syndrome.

Gray platelet syndrome (GPS) is a rare recessive disorder caused by biallelic variants in NBEAL2 and characterized by bleeding symptoms, the absence of platelet α-granules, splenomegaly, and bone marrow (BM) fibrosis. Due to the rarity of GPS, it has been difficult to fully understand the pathogenic processes that lead to these clinical sequelae. To discern the spectrum of pathologic features, we performed a detailed clinical genotypic and phenotypic study of 47 patients with GPS and identified 32 new etiologic variants in NBEAL2.

Adherence to prophylaxis in adolescents and young adults with severe haemophilia: a qualitative study with healthcare professionals.

to examine healthcare professionals' (HP) perceptions and experiences in relation to adherence to prophylactic treatment among young people living with haemophilia (YPH). All HPs in four haemophilia centres across England and Wales were invited to participate, and all HPs who agreed to take part ( = 6) were interviewed. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and then analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).