Rituximab for treatment of inhibitors in haemophilia A: A Phase II Study

The development of antibodies against infused factor VIII (FVIII) in patients with haemophilia A is a serious complication leading to poorly controlled bleeding and increased morbidity. No treatment has been proven to reduce high titre antibodies in patients who fail immune tolerance induction or are not candidates for it. The Rituximab for the Treatment of Inhibitors in Congenital Hemophilia A (RICH) study was a phase II trial to assess whether rituximab can reduce anamnestic FVIII antibody (inhibitor) titres. Male subjects with severe congenital haemophilia A and an inhibitor titre ≥5 Bethesda Units/ml (BU) following a FVIII challenge infusion received rituximab 375 mg/m2 weekly for weeks 1 through 4. Post-rituximab inhibitor titres were measured monthly from week 6 through week 22 to assess treatment response. Of 16 subjects who received at least one dose of rituximab, three (18.8%) met the criteria for a major response, defined as a fall in inhibitor titre to <5 BU, persisting after FVIII re-challenge. One subject had a minor response, defined as a fall in inhibitor titre to <5 BU, increasing to 5–10 BU after FVIII re-challenge, but <50% of the original peak inhibitor titre. Rituximab is useful in lowering inhibitor levels in patients, but its effect as a solo treatment strategy is modest. Future studies are indicated to determine the role of rituximab as an adjunctive therapy in immune tolerisation strategies

Impact of persistent antiphospholipid antibodies on risk of incident symptomatic thromboembolism in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

none20noneKenet G;Aronis S;Berkun Y;Bonduel M;Chan A;Goldenberg NA;Holzhauer S;Iorio A;Journeycake J;Junker R;Male C;Manco-Johnson M;Massicotte P;Mesters R;Monagle P;van Ommen H;Rafini L;Simioni P;Young G;Nowak-Göttl UKenet, G; Aronis, S; Berkun, Y; Bonduel, M; Chan, A; Goldenberg, Na; Holzhauer, S; Iorio, A; Journeycake, J; Junker, R; Male, C; Manco Johnson, M; Massicotte, P; Mesters, R; Monagle, P; van Ommen, H; Rafini, L; Simioni, Paolo; Young, G; Nowak Göttl, U

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. METHODS: Subjects were administered 200 µg/kg (major procedures) or 75 µg/kg eptacog beta (minor procedures) immediately prior to the initial surgical incision; subsequent 75 µg/kg doses were administered to achieve postoperative haemostasis and wound healing. Efficacy was assessed on a 4-point haemostatic scale during the intra- and postoperative periods. Anti-drug antibodies, thrombotic events and changes in clinical/laboratory parameters were monitored throughout the perioperative period. RESULTS: Twelve subjects underwent six major and six minor procedures. The primary efficacy endpoint success proportion was 100% (95% CI: 47.8%-100%) for minor procedures and 66.7% (95% CI: 22.3%-95.7%) for major procedures; 81.8% (95% CI: 48.2%-97.7%) of the procedures were considered successful using eptacog beta. There was one death due to bleeding from a nonsurgical site; this was assessed as unlikely related to eptacog beta. No thrombotic events or anti-eptacog beta antibodies were reported. CONCLUSION: Two eptacog beta dosing regimens in PwHABI undergoing major and minor surgical procedures were well-tolerated, and the majority of procedures were successful based on surgeon/investigator assessments. Eptacog beta offers clinicians a new potential therapeutic option for procedures in PwHABI

The safety of activated eptacog beta in the management of bleeding episodes and perioperative haemostasis in adult and paediatric haemophilia patients with inhibitors.

INTRODUCTION: Haemophilia patients with inhibitors often require a bypassing agent (BPA) for bleeding episode management. Eptacog beta (EB) is a new FDA-approved recombinant activated human factor VII BPA for the treatment and control of bleeding in haemophilia A or B patients with inhibitors (≥12 years of age). We describe here the EB safety profile from the three prospective Phase 3 clinical trials performed to date. AIM: To assess EB safety, immunogenicity and thrombotic potential in children and adults who received EB for treatment of bleeding and perioperative care. METHODS: Using a randomized crossover design, 27 subjects in PERSEPT 1 (12-54 years) and 25 subjects in PERSEPT 2 (1-11 years) treated bleeding episodes with 75 or 225 μg/kg EB initially followed by 75 μg/kg dosing at predefined intervals as determined by clinical response. Twelve PERSEPT 3 subjects (2-56 years) received an initial preoperative infusion of 75 μg/kg (minor procedures) or 200 μg/kg EB (major surgeries) with subsequent 75 μg/kg doses administered intraoperatively and post-operatively as indicated. Descriptive statistics were used for data analyses. RESULTS: Sixty subjects who received 3388 EB doses in three trials were evaluated. EB was well tolerated, with no allergic, hypersensitivity, anaphylactic or thrombotic events reported and no neutralizing anti-EB antibodies detected. A death occurred during PERSEPT 3 and was determined to be unlikely related to EB treatment by the data monitoring committee. CONCLUSION: Results from all three Phase 3 trials establish an excellent safety profile of EB in haemophilia A or B patients with inhibitors for treatment of bleeding and perioperative use

Eptacog Beta Efficacy in Children and Adolescents with Hemophilia A or B and Inhibitors: Subset Analysis Suggests Improved Caregiver Capacity to Assess Bleeding Episode Resolution with Subject Age

Abstract Introduction Following treatment with a bypassing agent, parents or caregivers often face difficulties in determining bleeding episode (BE) resolution in children with hemophilia A or B and inhibitors (CwHABI), potentially contributing to a longer treatment duration in children as compared to adults (Valentino et al, Haemophilia 2012; 18:554-60. Gruppo et al, Haemophilia 2013; 19:524-32). Eptacog beta is a new recombinant activated human factor VII proven to be safe and effective for the treatment and control of BEs in patients with hemophilia A or B with inhibitors (≥12 years of age). The pivotal phase 3 trial (PERSEPT 1; NCT02020369) included subjects from ages 12 to <18 years, in addition to adult subjects. A subsequent phase 3 trial (PERSEPT 2; NCT02448680) further examined the safety and efficacy of eptacog beta for bleed treatment in CwHABI <12 years of age. Within this population, we hypothesized that caregivers could better ascertain treatment success in older children, which would manifest as increasing eptacog beta efficacy measurements and tighter 95% confidence intervals (CIs) with increasing subject age. We explored this question by analyzing BE treatment success in three age subgroups within PERSEPT 1 and PERSEPT 2. Aims The study objective is to evaluate and compare the clinical response to eptacog beta for BEs in CwHABI at 12 and 24 hours after initial dose of eptacog beta in 3 pediatric age subgroups (<6 years, 6 to <12 years, and 12 to <18 years). Methods PERSEPT 1 and PERSEPT 2 were prospective, global, open-label trials of eptacog beta using two initial dose regimens (IDRs) of 75 and 225 µg/kg in a randomized, non-blinded, crossover design. Subjects received initial doses of 75 or 225 µg/kg eptacog beta followed by 75 µg/kg dosing at predefined intervals (determined by clinical response) to treat BEs (Figure 1). Treatment success for mild or moderate BEs was defined as obtaining a hemostasis evaluation of "excellent" or "good" with no use of additional eptacog beta, alternative hemostatic agents or blood products, and no increase in pain following the first "excellent" or "good" assessment. Evaluations were provided by the parent/caregiver in conjunction with the study participant when possible, depending upon subject age and verbal capacity. Written informed consent from the participants' parents/legal guardians were obtained at enrollment. Results Thirty subjects were assessed (25 from PERSEPT 2 [13 subjects, 0 to <6 years; 12 subjects, 6 to <12 years] and 5 from PERSEPT 1 [ages 12 to <18 years]). These subjects experienced 628 mild/moderate BEs. No subject was receiving emicizumab prophylaxis. Nearly all BEs in every pediatric age subgroup were successfully treated by 24 hours after initial eptacog beta infusion (Figure 2). At 12 hours, BE treatment success proportions in the 0 to <6 year, 6 to <12 year, and 12 to <18 year subgroups for the 75 µg/kg IDR were 58%, 72%, and 93%, respectively. Corresponding treatment success proportions for the 225 µg/kg IDR in the 0 to <6 year, 6 to <12 year, and 12 to <18 year subgroups were 58%, 63%, and 89%, respectively. The increased treatment success proportions seen for the 12 to <18 year subgroup over those seen for the 0 to <6 year and 6 to <12 year subgroups were statistically significant for both IDRs (p < 0.05; Figure 2). Differences in treatment success between the 0 to <6 year and 6 to <12-year subgroups were not statistically significant for either IDR. Treatment success point estimates at 12 hours in the 0 to <6 years age group showed the widest CIs among the various subgroups (Figure 2). Conclusions Eptacog beta treatment of BEs in this pediatric population yielded remarkable (>95%) treatment success proportions in both IDRs by 24 hours after initial eptacog beta infusion of 75 or 225 µg/kg. Differing age group pharmacokinetics could contribute to the observed increase in treatment efficacy at 12 hours with increasing subject age. In addition, when taken together with the wide CIs associated with treatment success point estimates at 12 hours for the 0 to <6 year subgroup, these results are consistent with well-known challenges that drive pediatric dosing of bypassing agents: chiefly, that of caregivers experiencing uncertainty with regard to BE resolution in young children. The high efficacy and narrow 95% CIs seen at 24 hours further indicate that caregivers had achieved clarity regarding BE resolution by the 24-hour timepoint. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Young: Apcintex, BioMarin, Genentech/Roche, Grifols, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Rani, Sanofi Genzyme, Spark, Takeda, and UniQure: Consultancy; Genentech/Roche, Grifols, and Takeda: Research Funding. Pipe: Catalyst Biosciences: Consultancy; CSL Behring: Consultancy; HEMA Biologics: Consultancy; Freeline: Consultancy, Other: Clinical trial investigator; Novo Nordisk: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Roche/Genentech: Consultancy, Other; Sangamo Therapeutics: Consultancy; Sanofi: Consultancy, Other; Takeda: Consultancy; Spark Therapeutics: Consultancy; uniQure: Consultancy, Other; Regeneron/ Intellia: Consultancy; Genventiv: Consultancy; Grifols: Consultancy; Biomarin: Consultancy, Other: Clinical trial investigator; Bayer: Consultancy; ASC Therapeutics: Consultancy; Apcintex: Consultancy; Octapharma: Consultancy; Shire: Consultancy. Carcao: Bayer, Bioverativ/Sanofi, CSL Behring, Novo Nordisk, Octapharma, Pfizer, Roche, and Shire/Takeda: Research Funding; Bayer, Bioverativ/Sanofi, CSL Behring, Grifols, LFB, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Roche, and Shire/Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Castaman: Uniqure: Honoraria; Bayer: Honoraria; Sobi: Honoraria; CSL Behring: Honoraria; Novo Nordisk: Honoraria; Kedrion: Honoraria; LFB: Honoraria; Grifols: Honoraria; Werfen: Honoraria; Biomarin: Honoraria; Sanofi: Honoraria; F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Honoraria. Davis: Genentech, Spark Therapeutics, BioMarin, Bayer: Consultancy; Takeda, Sanofi: Honoraria; Genentech, Sanofi, Novo Nordisk: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Ducore: Octapharma: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; HEMA Biologics: Consultancy, Honoraria; Bayer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Shire: Consultancy, Honoraria. Dunn: Sanofi, Takeda, Freeline, BioMarin, ATHN, Novo Nordisk: Research Funding; Genentech, Kedrion, CSL Behring, BioMarin: Consultancy; UniQure, CSL Behring, World Federation of Hemophilia USA: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche/Genentech: Honoraria. Journeycake: HEMA Biologics: Honoraria; LFB: Honoraria. Khan: Genentech, Octapharma, BioMarin, CSL Behring, HEMA Biologics, Kedrion, and Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Mahlangu: Bayer, Biogen, BioMarin, CSL, Novo Nordisk, Sobi, Roche, and UniQure: Research Funding; Amgen, Bayer, Biotest, Biogen, Baxalta, CSL Behring, Catalyst Biosciences, Novo Nordisk, Roche, and Spark: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Alnylam, Bayer, Biotest, Biogen, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Sobi, Shire, Roche, ISTH, and WFH: Speakers Bureau. Meeks: Sangamo Therapeutics: Consultancy; Spark Therapeutics: Consultancy; National Hemophilia Foundation: Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy; Sanofi: Consultancy; CSL Behring: Consultancy; Genentech: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Hemophilia of Georgia: Research Funding; National Institutes of Health: Research Funding. Négrier: UniQure: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; CSL Behring: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Biomarin: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novo Nordisk: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Roche-Chugai: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Sanofi-Sobi: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Spark: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bayer: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Recht: Foundation for Women and Girls with Blood Disorders, Partners in Bleeding Disorders: Speakers Bureau; uniQure: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Sanofi: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Octapharma: Consultancy; Novo Nordisk: Consultancy; Kedrion: Consultancy; Hema Biologics: Consultancy; Genentech: Consultancy; CSL Behring: Consultancy; Catalyst Biosciences: Consultancy; American Thrombosis and Hemostasis Network: Current Employment; Oregon Health & Science University: Current Employment. Chrisentery-Singleton: Biomarin: Speakers Bureau; Spark: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Kedrion: Consultancy; Octapharma: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Consultancy; Hema Biologics: Consultancy; Grifols: Consultancy; CSL Behring: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Genentech: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Novo Nordisk: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Stasyshyn: CSL Behring: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novo Nordisk: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Octapharma: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Grifols: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Shire: Consultancy. Wang: Octapharma: Other; Pfizer/Spark: Other: clinical trial investigator; uniQure: Consultancy, Other: Clinical trial investigator; Hem