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Background Immune tolerance induction (ITI) with repeated factor VIII (FVIII) administration is the only strategy proven to eradicate inhibitors. The observational ITI study is evaluating ITI with a range of FVIII products. Methods This subgroup analysis reports prospective interim data for patients treated with a plasma-derived, von Willebrand factor-stabilized FVIII concentrate (pdFVIII/VWF, octanate). Complete success (CS) of ITI required achievement of three criteria: inhibitor titer Results One-hundred prospectively enrolled patients were included in the analysis; 91 had poor prognosis factors for ITI success. The mean (standard deviation) daily ITI dose was 116.4 (61.1) IU FVIII/kg in 14 low responders (< 5 BU/mL) and 173.7 (112.0) IU FVIII/kg in 86 high responders (≥ 5 BU/mL). Inhibitor titers Conclusions ITI with pdFVIII/VWF led to rapid eradication of FVIII inhibitors, normalization of FVIII pharmacokinetics in the majority of patients, and a significant reduction in bleeding rates. more...

Introduction FVIII inhibitor development is the most serious contemporary treatment complication in haemophilia A, particularly in previously untreated patients (PUPs). No inhibitors developed in clinical trials in previously treated patients treated with simoctocog alfa (Nuwiq), a fourth-generation recombinant FVIII produced in a human cell line. Methods The NuProtect study investigated the immunogenicity of simoctocog alfa in PUPs. NuProtect was a prospective, multinational, open-label, non-controlled, phase III study. PUPs with severe haemophilia A (FVIII:C Results A total of 108 PUPs with a median age at first treatment of 12.0 months (interquartile range: 8.0–23.5) were treated with simoctocog alfa. F8 mutation type was known for 102 patients (94.4%) of whom 90 (88.2%) had null F8 mutations and 12 (11.8%) had non-null mutations. Of 105 PUPs evaluable for inhibitor development, 28 (26.7%) developed inhibitors; 17 high titre (16.2%) and 11 low titre (10.5%). No PUPs with non-null F8 mutations developed inhibitors. Conclusion In the NuProtect study, the rate of inhibitor development in PUPs with severe haemophilia A treated with simoctocog alfa was lower than the rate reported for hamster-cell-derived recombinant factor VIII products in other recent clinical trials. No inhibitors were reported in PUPs with non-null F8 mutations. more...

Introduction Nuwiq® (Human-cl rhFVIII) is a fourth generation recombinant FVIII, produced in a human cell line, without chemical modification or protein fusion. No inhibitors developed in studies with Nuwiq® in 201 previously treated patients with haemophilia A (HA). The immunogenicity, efficacy and safety of Nuwiq® in previously untreated patients (PUPs) with severe HA are being assessed in the ongoing NuProtect study. Methods The study, conducted across 38 centres worldwide, is evaluating 110 true PUPs of all ages and ethnicities enrolled for study up to 100 exposure days (EDs) or 5 years maximum. The primary objective is to assess the immunogenicity of Nuwiq® (inhibitor activity ≥0.6 BU) using the Nijmegen-modified Bethesda assay at a central laboratory. Results Data for 66 PUPs with ≥20 EDs from a preplanned interim analysis were analysed. High-titre (HT) inhibitors developed in 8 of 66 patients after a median of 11.5 EDs (range 6-24). Five patients developed low-titre inhibitors (4 transient). The cumulative incidence (95% confidence interval) was 12.8% (4.5%, 21.2%) for HT inhibitors and 20.8% (10.7%, 31.0%) for all inhibitors. During inhibitor-free periods, median annualized bleeding rates during prophylaxis were 0 for spontaneous bleeds and 2.40 for all bleeds. Efficacy was rated as “excellent” or “good” in treating 91.8% of bleeds. Efficacy of surgical prophylaxis was “excellent” or “good” for 8 (89%) procedures and “moderate” for 1 (11%). No tolerability concerns were evident. Conclusion These interim data show a cumulative incidence of 12.8% for HT inhibitors and convincing efficacy and tolerability in PUPs treated with Nuwiq®. more...

Introduction Nuwiq® (human-cl rhFVIII) is a 4th generation recombinant human FVIII, without chemical modification or protein fusion, produced in a human cell-line. Aims/Methods This study (NuPreviq) was a prospective, open-label, multicentre, phase IIIb study of the efficacy and safety of personalized prophylaxis with Nuwiq® in 66 previously treated adults with severe haemophilia A. NuPreviq had three phases: (i) a 72-h pharmacokinetic (PK) phase; (ii) a 1–3 month standard prophylaxis phase; and (iii) a 6-month personalized prophylaxis phase. The personalized prophylaxis regimen was based on individual PK modelling for each patient according to whether their PK profile most closely fitted a two- or one-compartment model (NuPreviq approach). In cases of uncertainty, a noncompartment model was applied. Results The median dosing interval during personalized prophylaxis was 3.5 days, with 57% of patients on ≤2 weekly dosing. Mean annualized bleeding rates during personalized prophylaxis were 1.45 (median [interquartile range, IQR]: 0 [0, 1.9]) for all bleeds, 0.79 (median [IQR]: 0 [0, 0]) for spontaneous bleeds, and 0.91 (median [IQR]: 0 [0, 0]) for joint bleeds. During personalized prophylaxis, 83.1% of patients were spontaneous bleed-free. Compared with standard prophylaxis, median weekly prophylaxis dose was reduced by 7.2% from 100.0 to 92.8 IU kg−1 during the last 2 months of personalized prophylaxis. There were no FVIII inhibitors or treatment-related serious or severe adverse events. Conclusion PK-guided personalized prophylaxis with Nuwiq® provided bleeding protection and enabled the dosing interval to be extended to twice weekly or less in many patients and an overall dose reduction. more...

BACKGROUND Accurate determination of coagulation factor VIII activity (FVIII:C) is essential for effective and safe FVIII replacement therapy. FVIII C can be measured by one-stage and chromogenic substrate assays (OSAs and CSAs, respectively); however, there is significant interlaboratory and interassay variability. AIMS This international comparative field study characterized the behaviour of OSAs and CSAs used in routine laboratory practice to measure the activity of Nuwiq® (human-cl rhFVIII, simoctocog alfa), a fourth-generation recombinant human FVIII produced in a human cell line. METHODS FVIII-deficient plasma was spiked with Nuwiq® or Advate® at 1, 5, 30 and 100 international units (IU)/dL. Participating laboratories analysed the samples using their routine procedures and equipment. Accuracy, inter- and intralaboratory variation, CSA:OSA ratio and the impact of different OSA and CSA reagents were assessed. RESULTS Forty-nine laboratories from 9 countries provided results. Mean absolute FVIII:C was comparable for both products at all concentrations with both OSA and CSA, with interproduct ratios (Nuwiq® :Advate® ) of 1.02-1.13. Mean recoveries ranged from 97% to 191% for Nuwiq® , and from 93% to 172% for Advate® , with higher recoveries at lower concentrations. Subgroup analyses by OSA and CSA reagents showed minor variations depending on reagents, but no marked differences between the two products. CSA:OSA ratios based on overall means ranged from 0.99 to 1.17 for Nuwiq® and from 1.01 to 1.17 for Advate® . CONCLUSIONS Both OSAs and CSAs are suitable for the measurement of FVIII:C of Nuwiq® in routine laboratory practice, without the need for a product-specific reference standard. more...

Background: The SIPPET study investigated inhibitor development in 251 previously untreated patients (PUPs) treated with either plasma-derived FVIII products containing von Willebrand factor (pdFVIII/VWF; n = 125), or recombinant FVIII (rFVIII; n = 126) from hamster cell lines. Amongst PUPs with non-null F8 mutations, none developed inhibitors when treated with pdFVIII/VWF while the cumulative inhibitor incidence was 43% in those treated with hamster-cell-derived rFVIII. In patients with null F8 mutations, the cumulative inhibitor incidences were 31% and 47% in patients treated with pdFVIII/VWF and rFVIII, respectively. In patients with null mutations the cumulative incidences of high-titre inhibitors were 22% and 30% with pdFVIII/VWF and rFVIII, respectively. Aim: To investigate the relationship between inhibitor development and F8 mutation type in PUPs with severe hemophilia A treated with either a rFVIII from a human cell line (Nuwiq®; simoctocog alfa) or either of two pdFVIII/VWF products, one with a VWF/FVIII ratio of 0.4 (octanate®) the other with a VWF/FVIII ratio of 1.0 (wilate®). Materials and Methods: Data from completed multicenter, prospective trials with octanate® and wilate® and interim data from the NuProtect study with Nuwiq® were analyzed. Data on F8 mutation type were available for 50/51, 27/28 and 58/66 patients in each of the studies. All patients in the three studies had no previous treatment with FVIII concentrates or other blood products containing FVIII. Results: In the three studies, 18% (9/50), 7.4% (2/27) and 19%.0% (11/58) of patients had non-null mutations. None of the patients with non-null mutations developed inhibitors with octanate®, wilate® or Nuwiq®. In patients with null mutations, 9.8% (4/41), 12.0% (3/25), and 17.0% (8/47) developed high-titre inhibitors. Conclusions: PUPs with non-null F8 mutations did not develop inhibitors when treated with octanate®, wilate® or Nuwiq®. Whilst the different studies are not directly comparable, the findings with these products, two pdFVIII/VWF and a rFVIII from a human cell line, show similar behavior to the SIPPET trial where no patients with non-null mutations treated with pdFVIII/VWF products developed inhibitors. Disclosures Liesner: Bayer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Baxalta: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novo Nordisk: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Research Funding; Sobi: Speakers Bureau; Octapharma: Consultancy, Other: Clinical study investigator for NuProtect Study (Octapharma sponsored), Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Versteden:Octapharma AG: Employment. Lowndes:Octapharma AG: Employment. Belyanskaya:Octapharma AG: Employment. Oldenburg:Grifols: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novo Nordisk: Honoraria, Research Funding; Biotest: Honoraria, Research Funding; Biogen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding; Roche: Honoraria, Research Funding; Octapharma: Honoraria, Research Funding; Shire: Honoraria, Research Funding; CSL Behring: Honoraria, Research Funding; Bayer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Chugai: Honoraria, Research Funding; Swedish Orphan Biovitrum: Honoraria, Research Funding. Pavlova:Novo Nordisk: Honoraria; Octapharma: Honoraria. more...

Introduction/Objective: The development of FVIII inhibitors remains the greatest challenge to the treatment of previously untreated patients (PUPs) with haemophilia A. Uncontrolled studies in PUPs have suggested that immunogenicity of FVIII concentrates varies between different products. In the SIPPET study, the first and only large randomised controlled study to examine the impact of FVIII product type on immunogenicity, the cumulative incidence of high-titre inhibitors in PUPs and minimally treated patients (MTPs) treated with hamster cell-derived recombinant FVIII (rFVIII) products was 28.4%, compared with 18.6% for plasma-derived FVIII/von Willebrand factor (pdFVIII/VWF) products [1]. However, SIPPET did not include all currently available FVIII products, limiting the applicability of its conclusions to the current haemophilia treatment landscape. In previous clinical studies of true PUPs treated with the pdFVIII/VWF concentrates octanate® [2] and wilate®, the cumulative incidences of high-titre inhibitors were 8.0% and 11.3%, respectively. For the human-cell derived rFVIII Nuwiq®, the cumulative incidence of high-titre inhibitors was 12.8% (data from a preplanned interim analysis) [3]. These incidences suggest a favourable immunogenicity profile compared to products in the SIPPET study. However, there is a need for more real-life data on treatment effectiveness and safety in PUPs and MTPs. The ongoing, non-interventional, multi-centre Protect-NOW study is a prospective and retrospective study evaluating real-life treatment patterns, effectiveness and safety, including inhibitor development, in PUPs and MTPs with severe haemophilia A who are treated with Octapharma's pdFVIII or rFVIII products. Methods: One hundred and forty PUPs (no previous treatment) and MTPs ( Results: Recruitment is ongoing, with seven patients recruited at two German centres to date. The study has been approved by central and/or local ethics committees in Germany, US, UK, Spain and Russia, and is under ethical review in Canada. Final data collection is expected in 2022. Conclusions: Protect-NOW will collect real-life clinical experience with Octapharma's FVIII products in PUPs and MTPs. This study will contribute real-world data to the current debate on the relevance of FVIII concentrate type in inhibitor induction. ReferencesPeyvandi F et al. N Engl J Med 2016; 374:2054-64.Klukowska A et al. Haemophilia 2018; 24:221-28.Liesner R et al. Haemophilia 2018; 24: 211-20. Disclosures Oldenburg: Novo Nordisk: Honoraria, Research Funding; Roche: Honoraria, Research Funding; Swedish Orphan Biovitrum: Honoraria, Research Funding; Chugai: Honoraria, Research Funding; Bayer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Biogen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Biotest: Honoraria, Research Funding; CSL Behring: Honoraria, Research Funding; Octapharma: Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding; Shire: Honoraria, Research Funding; Grifols: Honoraria, Research Funding. Pavlova:Octapharma: Honoraria; Novo Nordisk: Honoraria. Halimeh:Bayer healthcare, Baxalta Innovations, Biotest, CSL Behring, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Octapharma, LFB, Pfizer: Honoraria; Bayer Healthcare, Baxalta Innovations, Biotest, CSL Behring, Novo Nordisk, Octapharma, Pfizer: Research Funding. Klamroth:Baxalta (Shire), Bayer, CSL Behring, Novo Nordisk, Octapharma, Pfizer, Shire, and SOBI: Research Funding; Baxalta (Shire), Bayer, CSL Behring, Novo Nordisk, Octapharma, Pfizer, Shire, and SOBI: Consultancy. Versteden:Octapharma AG: Employment. Jansen:Octapharma: Employment. Belyanskaya:Octapharma AG: Employment. more...

Introduction and Objective: Inhibitors to coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) are the most serious complication of haemophilia A treatment. Previously untreated patients (PUPs) are at the greatest risk of inhibitors, which generally occur within the first 20 exposure days (ED) to FVIII. Immune tolerance induction (ITI) is the only clinically proven strategy for eradication of inhibitors. We present a case series of six PUPs with severe haemophilia A and inhibitors who underwent ITI with simoctocog alfa (Nuwiq®), a 4th generation human cell-line-derived recombinant FVIII approved for treatment of haemophilia A. Materials and Methods: Six male PUPs with severe haemophilia A who developed FVIII inhibitors after treatment with simoctocog alfa were started on ITI with simoctocog alfa. Primarily, we assessed the success of simoctocog alfa in patients with inhibitors. Success of ITI was determined based on undetectable inhibitor titre (< 0.6 BU/ml), FVIII recovery ≥ 66% and half-life ≥ 6 hours. Secondary objectives were to assess bleeding rate, tolerability and safety in patients with inhibitors treated with simoctocog alfa ITI. Results: The age of the patients at the start of ITI ranged from 8 to 186 months. Four of the patients were Caucasian, and two were African. All patients had a F8 mutation associated with high risk of ITI failure and two patients had an additional risk factor for ITI failure. The number of EDs prior to inhibitor development ranged from 9 to 33, and the peak inhibitor titre ranged from 0.9 to 114 BU. For ITI, five patients were treated with 100 IU/kg simoctocog alfa daily, and one with 90 IU/kg every other day. One patient achieved complete tolerisation and is now on prophylaxis at normal doses, having achieved an undetectable inhibitor titre after 9 months. This was despite an inhibitor titre ≥ 10 BU/mL at ITI start, which is considered a poor prognosis factor for ITI success. Three other patients achieved an undetectable inhibitor titre after 1, 6 and 18 months of ITI, and FVIII recovery has normalised but half-life remains short and they are on weaning doses as the half-life extends. One patient discontinued ITI with simoctocog alfa after 15 months due to an increasing inhibitor level. This patient was 15 years old at ITI start, and older age is associated with poor ITI outcome. Additionally, his haemophilia A was untreated for 15 years, during which time he developed severe arthropathy. One patient, who started ITI 3 months ago, has an ongoing inhibitor titre and continues on ITI with simoctocog alfa. Conclusions: In a case series of six patients treated with simoctocog alfa for ITI, who all had poor prognosis factors for ITI success, four patients (67%) to date have achieved an undetectable inhibitor titre. These data suggest that ITI with simoctocog alfa may be an effective treatment approach in haemophilia A patients with inhibitors. Disclosures Khair: Shire, SOBI, Pfizer, Roche, Novo Nordisk, Octapharma: Speakers Bureau; shire, SOBI, Pfizer, Roche: Research Funding. Liesner:Roche: Research Funding; Novo Nordisk: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Baxalta: Consultancy, Research Funding; Bayer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Octapharma: Consultancy, Other: Clinical study investigator for NuProtect Study (Octapharma sponsored), Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Sobi: Speakers Bureau. Belyanskaya:Octapharma AG: Employment. more...

Our study was designed to investigate the role of the anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL in the chemoresistance of cells derived from malignant pleural mesothelioma. First, we determined the basal expression levels of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL in mesothelioma cells and examined the effect of their downregulation by antisense oligonucleotides. Bcl-xL mRNA and protein could be readily detected in mesothelioma cell lines, whereas only low levels of Bcl-2 mRNA and protein were found. Preferential downregulation of either Bcl-xL alone or of Bcl-xL and Bcl-2 simultaneously was achieved by treatment with antisense oligonucleotides 4259 and 4625, respectively, whereas the expression of other apoptosis-relevant genes remained unaffected. Treatment with oligonucleotides 4259 or 4625 lowered the apoptosis threshold in ZL34 mesothelioma cells, as indicated by an increase in cell death accompanied by increased caspase-3-like activity, a decrease of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential and the cleavage of procaspase-7 and ICAD. In addition to the direct induction of apoptosis, antisense treatment sensitized ZL34 cells to the cytostatic effect of cisplatin and gemcitabine, with the combination of 4625 and cisplatin being the most effective. Our results demonstrate that Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL antisense treatment facilitates apoptosis in mesothelioma cells and suggest the use of Bcl-2/Bcl-xL bispecific antisense treatment in combination with cisplatin or gemcitabine for therapy of malignant pleural mesothelioma. more...