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HEMGENIX®-logo-bg HEMGENIX® (etranacogene dezaparvovec)

SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION DESIGNED FOR HEMOPHILIA B

Gene therapy is an innovative approach to treatment that either introduces a functional gene or inactivates or edits the gene causing a disease. For hemophilia B, this means that an effective gene therapy could transfer a working F9 gene into hepatocytes and allow patients to achieve long-term endogenous factor IX expression.1-4

Why is hemophilia B an appropriate target for gene therapy? Dr. George explains.

Explore the science that makes gene therapy such an exciting therapeutic option for treating hemophilia B:

Explore the science that makes gene therapy such an exciting therapeutic option for treating hemophilia B:

Functional F9 gene

Mutation of the F9 gene in patients with hemophilia B prevents them from producing sufficient factor IX1,5

Functional F9 gene

Gene transfer is an approach to gene therapy that delivers a functional gene—an F9 gene, in the case of hemophilia B—either directly to the patient (in vivo gene therapy) or into cells that have been taken from the patient and treated before being returned to the patient (ex vivo gene therapy)4,6

Vector around gene

To accomplish this, the functional gene is inserted into an inactivated viral shell (the vector), which carries the gene to specific target cells2,7,8

Target

In clinical trials, gene therapies for hemophilia B have utilized a type of vector called an adeno-associated virus, or AAV, which can target specific areas of the body—including the liver, where factor IX is produced2,7

Liver with gene

Serotypes AAV2, AAV5, AAV6, AAV8, and AAV9 have been shown to exhibit liver tropism and are thus well suited to liver-directed AAV gene therapy. AAV5 is the most phylogenetically distinct of the serotypes commonly used in gene therapy and may have more exclusive tropism for the liver than other AAV serotypes9,10

Ruler with gene

Further, the F9 gene is small enough to fit inside a standard AAV vector2,11

Factor IX replacement therapy has been the standard of care for hemophilia B, but while on it, patients can still experience the burden of bleeds

In a recent CSL Behring-sponsored survey—despite being on short-term or long-term prophylaxis*—patients with hemophilia B (N=110) reported:

4.2

Average number of spontaneous bleeds in the previous 6 months12

65%

Having joint damage12

87%

Experiencing joint pain at least a few times per month12

*Short‐term prophylaxis is prolonged treatment following a bleed until full recovery and prophylaxis prior to physical activity. Long‐term prophylaxis is regular preventative injections. Of the 110 people surveyed, 29 were being treated with short‐term prophylaxis only, 74 were being treated with long‐term prophylaxis only, and 7 were being treated with both short‐term and long‐term prophylaxis.

Man standing

Gene therapy aims to continue advancing treatment for hemophilia B by:

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Reducing bleeds13

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Reducing or eliminating the need for routine factor IX prophylaxis13

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Providing the long-term benefits of sustained factor IX activity levels13

Patient portrayal

HEMGENIX is the first ever FDA-approved gene therapy for hemophilia B

References: 1. What is Hemophilia? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last reviewed July 25, 2018. Accessed October 13, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/hemophilia/facts.html 2. Perrin GQ, Herzog RW, Markusic DM. Update on clinical gene therapy for hemophilia. Blood. 2019;133(5):407-414.doi:10.1182/blood-2018-07-820720 3. Pipe SW, Recht M, Key NS, et al. First data from the Phase 3 HOPE-B gene therapy trial: efficacy and safety of etranacogene dezaparvovec (AAV5-Padua hFIX variant; AMT-061) in adults with severe or moderate-severe hemophilia B treated irrespective of pre-existing anti-capsid neutralizing antibodies. Presented at: 62nd ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition; December 5-8, 2020; Virtual. 4. What is Gene Therapy? US Food & Drug Administration. Last reviewed August 1, 2022. Accessed October 13, 2022. https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/cellular-gene-therapy-products/what-gene-therapy 5. Arruda VR, Doshi BS. Gene therapy for hemophilia: facts and quandaries in the 21st century. Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis. 2020;12(1):e2020069. doi:10.4084/MJHID.2020.069 6. Rodríguez-Merchán EC, De Pablo-Moreno JA, Liras A. Gene therapy in hemophilia: recent advances. Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(14):7647. doi:10.3390/ijms22147647 7. Dhungel BP, Bailey CG, Rasko JEJ. Journey to the center of the cell: tracing the path of AAV transduction. Trends Mol Med. 2021;27(2):172-184. Accessed October 13, 2022. doi:10.1016/j.molmed.2020.09.010 8. Miesbach W, O'Mahony B, Key NS, Makris M. How to discuss gene therapy for haemophilia? A patient and physician perspective. Haemophilia. 2019;25(4):545-557. doi:10.1111/hae.13769 9. Pipe S, Leebeek FWG, Ferreira V, Sawyer EK, Pasi J. Clinical considerations for capsid choice in the development of liver-targeted AAV-based gene transfer. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev. 2019;15:170-178. doi:10.1016/j.omtm.2019.08.015 10. Zincarelli C, Soltys S, Rengo G, Rabinowitz JE. Analysis of AAV serotypes 1-9 mediated gene expression and tropism in mice after systemic injection. Mol Ther. 2008;16(6):1073-1080. doi:10.1038/mt.2008.76 11. Batty P, Lillicrap D. Hemophilia gene therapy: approaching the first licensed product. Hemasphere. 2021;5(3):e540. doi:10.1097/HS9.0000000000000540 12. Data on file. Available from CSL Behring as DOF HGX-001. 13. Pipe SW. Delivering on the promise of gene therapy for haemophilia. Haemophilia. 2021;27(suppl 3):114-121. doi:10.1111/hae.14027

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IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Warning and Precautions

Infusion Reactions

Infusion reactions, including hypersensitivity reactions and anaphylaxis, may occur. Monitor during administration and for at least 3 hours after end of infusion. If symptoms occur, slow or interrupt administration. Re-start administration at a slower infusion once resolved.

Hepatotoxicity/Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Post-dose, monitor for elevated transaminase levels. Consider corticosteroid treatment should elevations occur. The integration of liver-targeting AAV vector DNA into the genome may carry the theoretical risk of hepatocellular carcinoma development. For patients with preexisting risk factors for hepatocellular carcinogenicity, perform regular (eg, annual) abdominal ultrasound and alpha-fetoprotein testing following administration.

Immune-mediated neutralization of the AAV5 vector capsid

Preexisting neutralizing anti-AAV antibodies may impede transgene expression at desired levels.

Monitoring Laboratory Tests

In addition to monitoring liver function, monitor for Factor IX activity and Factor IX inhibitors after administration.

Adverse Reactions

The most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥5%) were elevated ALT, headache, blood creatine kinase elevations, flu-like symptoms, infusion-related reactions, fatigue, nausea, malaise, and elevated AST.

Indication

HEMGENIX®, etranacogene dezaparvovec-drlb, is an adeno-associated virus vector-based gene therapy indicated for the treatment of adults with Hemophilia B (congenital Factor IX deficiency) who:

  • Currently use Factor IX prophylaxis therapy, or
  • Have current or historical life-threatening hemorrhage, or
  • Have repeated, serious spontaneous bleeding episodes.

HEMGENIX is for single use intravenous infusion only.

Contraindications: None.

Please see full prescribing information for HEMGENIX.

To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact the CSL Behring Pharmacovigilance Department at 1-866-915-6958 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.