Hemophilia A: Incorporating New Therapeutic Strategies to Address Historical Treatment Challenges

MedEdTalks - Hematology

Hemophilia A is an X-linked recessive disease primarily affecting males. An estimated 20,000 individuals in the United States have the disease. Conventional standard of care for patients with severe disease is factor VIII administration given prophylactically or to treat bleeding episodes. Almost 30% of patients treated with factor VIII develop neutralizing antibodies known as inhibitors, which require treatment with expensive bypassing agents. Newer approaches to treating hemophilia A include pegylated recombinant factor VIII agents with a longer half-life that allow for reduced dosing, as well as emicizumab, a bispecific antibody therapy that mimics the cofactor activity of factor VIII by binding to and bridging activated factor IX and factor X. In this 4-part CME podcast series, experts will summarize historical challenges in hemophilia A care; discuss how newer treatment options may benefit patients with and without inhibitors; and present strategies to promote shared decision-making and improve patient satisfaction. Additionally, faculty will speak with a patient advocate regarding treatment concerns and communication preferences.