Virus World

The BEQVEZ gene therapy inserts a working copy of the Factor IX (FIX) gene that codes for a high-activity FIX variant.  Patients with moderate to severe hemophilia B can now take Pfizer’s BEQVEZ (fidanacogene elaparvovec-dzkt) with the approval of the FDA. Hemophilia B is an inherited bleeding disorder that affects more than 38,000 people globally and is caused by impaired blood clotting due to a factor IX (FIX) deficiency. The current gold standard for FIX replacement therapy prevention is infusions given once weekly or monthly. These infusions supplement or temporarily replace low blood clotting factor levels. Despite receiving prophylaxis and regular intravenous infusions, people with moderate to severe hemophilia B may still experience spontaneous bleeding episodes. Additionally, the current standard of care places a burden on healthcare systems’ budgets and resource allocation...

CSL will market the drug which was developed by UniQure. The FDA approved UniQure’s Hemgenix (etranacogene dezaparvovec), an adeno-associated virus vector-based gene therapy for the treatment of adults with Hemophilia B (congenital Factor IX deficiency). “Gene therapy for hemophilia has been on the horizon for more than two decades. Despite advancements in the treatment of hemophilia, the prevention and treatment of bleeding episodes can adversely impact individuals’ quality of life,” said Peter Marks, MD, PhD, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. “Today’s approval provides a new treatment option for patients with Hemophilia B and represents important progress in the development of innovative therapies for those experiencing a high burden of disease associated with this form of hemophilia.” Hemophilia B is a genetic bleeding disorder resulting from missing or insufficient levels of blood clotting Factor IX, a protein needed to produce blood clots to stop bleeding. Symptoms can include prolonged or heavy bleeding after an injury, surgery, or dental procedure; in severe cases, bleeding episodes can occur spontaneously without a clear cause. Prolonged bleeding episodes can lead to serious complications, such as bleeding into joints, muscles, or internal organs, including the brain.

Hemophilia B represents about 15% of patients with hemophilia

Most individuals who have Hemophilia B and experience symptoms are men. The prevalence of Hemophilia B in the population is about one in 40,000; Hemophilia B represents about 15% of patients with hemophilia. Many women carriers of the disease have no symptoms. However, an estimated 10–25% of women carriers have mild symptoms; in rare cases, women may have moderate or severe symptoms. Treatment typically involves replacing the missing or deficient clotting factor to improve the body’s ability to stop bleeding and promote healing. Patients with severe Hemophilia B typically require a routine treatment regimen of intravenous (IV) infusions of Factor IX replacement products to maintain sufficient levels of clotting factor to prevent bleeding episodes. Hemgenix is a one-time gene therapy product given as a single dose by IV infusion. It consists of a viral vector carrying a gene for clotting Factor IX. The gene is expressed in the liver to produce Factor IX protein, to increase blood levels of Factor IX, and thereby limit bleeding episodes. CSL, based in Australia, will reportedly market the drug at a cost of $3.5 million for a single dose. The safety and effectiveness of Hemgenix were evaluated in two studies of 57 adult men 18 to 75 years of age with severe or moderately severe Hemophilia B. Effectiveness was established based on decreases in the men’s annualized bleeding rate (ABR). In one study, which had 54 participants, the subjects had increases in Factor IX activity levels, a decreased need for routine Factor IX replacement prophylaxis, and a 54% reduction in ABR compared to baseline. The most common adverse reactions associated with Hemgenix included liver enzyme elevations, headache, mild infusion-related reactions, and flu-like symptoms. Patients should be monitored for adverse infusion reactions and liver enzyme elevations (transaminitis) in their blood.