new treatment 'strengthens care possibilities for people living with hemophilia a'
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the drug will be given as an iv infusion once a week, giving those with hemophilia a both a chance at disease management and convenience, as current therapies are often given two to three times a week.
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hemophilia a, a genetic bleeding disorder, is becoming easier to treat thanks to health canada’s recent notice of compliance for altuviiio, a new class of factor viii therapy. the drug has shown promising results in clinical trials, paving the way for better treatment for those with hemophilia a.
since the condition is lifelong and requires ongoing management, having access to newer therapies for altuviiio will grant people living with hemophilia a new avenue to try to reduce bleeding rates and restore their overall quality of life.
“this approval underscores why the pursuit of advanced treatments is crucial for patients. hemophilia a has been seen as a condition that dictates the terms of one’s life. by maintaining factor levels in the normal to near-normal range for most of the time, this is a stepping stone towards a future where hemophilia a is no longer a life-limiting condition,” said dr. anthony chan, a pediatric hematologist, in a media release.
hemophilia a and how the new drug can help
hemophilia a develops when there is an absence of a protein known as factor viii. this protein encourages proper blood clotting in the body. when a person doesn’t have enough factor viii, it can lead to dangerous and prolonged bleeding, easy bruising, and potential internal bleeding into the joints and the muscles of the body. if left untreated, these prolonged bleeding periods can be life-threatening.
the new drug altuviiio has been designed to reintroduce factor viii into the bloodstream to temporarily encourage normal blood clotting in people with hemophilia a. during clinical trials, as many as 77 per cent of participants experienced a reduction in bleeding rates.
the drug will be given as an iv infusion once a week, giving those with hemophilia a both a chance at disease management and convenience, as current therapies are often given two to three times a week. it’s also approved for adults, adolescents, and children with hemophilia a, giving everyone with the disease a chance to experience more infrequent infusions that work.
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“the canadian hemophilia society (chs) welcomes health canada’s approval of altuviiio®. the convenience of once-a-week iv infusions represents an important advancement, and having another treatment option available strengthens care possibilities for people living with hemophilia a,” said emil wijnker, president of the canadian hemophilia society (chs), in a media release.
the goal was to provide access to a new drug that doesn’t only treat hemophilia a but does so in a way that provides people with the condition a way to experience a better quality of life while on the medication.
“the ultimate treatment goal in hemophilia care is to bridge the gap between living with hemophilia and living without limitations. with the approval of innovative therapies like altuviiio®, patients have the possibility of sustained factor levels, which is setting a new standard of care that allow patients to experience extended periods of protection,” said dr. davide matino, hematologist, in a media release.
delivering innovation to those who need it most
the drug was developed by sanofi, who has been working to create new approaches to treatment for over a decade. the progress made with altuviiio and its subsequent approval “marks a paradigm shift in the hemophilia treatment landscape” while also recognizing the need for a commitment to delivering new therapies to people living with hemophilia a.
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