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Aim: Buprenorphine is one of the strongest opioids used for the relief of cancer pain. This study aims to evaluate the real‐world clinical experiences of transdermal buprenorphine used in moderate to severe cancer pain in the Asian population. Methods: This is an open‐labeled, multicenter, 4‐week observational study. Stable cancer pain patients who decided to switch the previous opioid to transdermal buprenorphine will be enrolled in this study. The safety and effectiveness were observed and collected. Pain assessment was performed using a numerical rating scale by the investigators and the Brief Pain Inventory Short Form (BPI‐SF) by the patient. The safety profiles included concomitant medications and adverse events (AEs). Results: A total of 83 patients were enrolled in this study. The global pain scores in the BPI, as well as the four individual pain parameters (worst, least, average, and right now), showed a continued decrease (p <.05) from week 2 to week 4. Significant improvements were observed in normal work activities, relations with other people, sleep, enjoyment of life, and global BPI pain interference score on week 4. Pain assessments conducted by investigators demonstrated significant, continuous improvements during the study periods. In addition, transdermal buprenorphine demonstrated good safety/tolerability with limited drug‐related AEs in the Asian population with cancer pain. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that transdermal buprenorphine in the Asian population has good safety profiles and continued improvements in pain relief, sleep, and pain interferences. Transdermal buprenorphine can be an effective and convenient option as a transdermal opioid for patients with moderate to severe cancer pain in Taiwan. (NCT Number: NCT04315831) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Emicizumab mimicking the cofactor function of activated factor VIII (FVIII) restores haemostasis. Methods: This nationwide observational study aimed to retrospectively investigate efficacy, safety, and cost in 1 year before and up to 3 years after emicizumab prophylaxis for haemophilia A (HA) patients with FVIII inhibitors. Results and discussion: A total of 39 severe HA patients with a median age of 23.0 years were enrolled. The median historical peak FVIII inhibitor titre was 174.2 BU/mL with an interquartile range of 56.5–578.8 BU/mL. The median annualized bleeding rate reduced from 24 to 0 events in the first year after emicizumab prophylaxis (p <.01) and sustained in the second and third years. The median annualized joint bleeding rate reduced to 0 and maintained up to 3 years (p <.01). Twenty‐seven patients (69.2%) had target joints before emicizumab prophylaxis and only seven patients (17.9%) of them had target joints after prophylaxis. Medical costs, including cost of haemostatic therapy, frequency of outpatient department visits, emergency room visits and hospital admission, were significantly reduced after emicizumab prophylaxis (p <.01). FVIII inhibitor titre decreased after emicizumab prophylaxis. Overall, three (7.7%) patients experienced 202 grade 1 drug‐related adverse events after emicizumab prophylaxis. No serious adverse events were reported during emicizumab prophylaxis period. The adherence to emicizumab prophylaxis was 100% up to 3 years. Conclusions: HA patients with FVIII inhibitors treated with emicizumab prophylaxis resulted in a significant reduction in treated bleeds and associated costs. No new safety events were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim and Objectives: This study explored the effect of transdermal buprenorphine on quality of life and six symptoms in cancer patients with pain. Background: Transdermal opioids offer advantages over traditional routes of administration. The impact of transdermal buprenorphine on quality of life for patients with cancer in Asian populations is unknown. Design: This study employed a single‐arm observational repeated measures design. Cancer patients with pain were evaluated prior to treatment (baseline). Over a 4‐week treatment period, quality of life and symptoms were assessed at 2 and 4 weeks. This study adhered to the recommendations of STROBE guidelines. Methods: This multi‐site study was conducted in six hospitals located across northern, middle and southern Taiwan. Adult cancer patients whose pain was previously stable with opioid analgesics and, based on clinical judgement, were able to convert to transdermal buprenorphine treatment were invited to participate. Quality of life was measured with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (QLQ‐C30). Results: Generalised estimating equations showed participants who completed at least one follow‐up measurement (N = 80) over 4‐weeks had a significant improvement in overall quality of life. Functional status only improved for social functioning. However, symptom severity decreased significantly for nausea/vomiting, pain, insomnia and constipation. Conclusions: The study provides initial evidence supporting transdermal buprenorphine for providing beneficial effects of improving quality of life and reducing severity of symptoms in Asian patients with cancer. Relevance to clinical practice: The findings of this study can inform the clinical practice that the use of transdermal buprenorphine in cancer patients with pain may also reduce the severity of other symptoms and improve overall quality of life. Trial registration details: This study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov. Identifier: NCT04315831. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]