Emicizumab for the treatment of haemophilia A: a narrative review

Blood Transfus. 2019 May;17(3):223-228. doi: 10.2450/2019.0026-19.

Abstract

One of the most serious complications of the treatment of severe haemophilia A is the development of alloantibodies against exogenous factor VIII (FVIII). Inhibitors render factor replacement therapy ineffective, exposing patients to a remarkably high risk of morbidity and mortality. Besides the well-known bypassing agents (i.e. activated prothrombin complex concentrate and recombinant activated factor VII) used to treat or prevent bleeding in haemophilia patients with inhibitors, there is growing interest in newer haemostatic therapies that are not based on the replacement of the deficient FVIII. This review will focus on the most interesting among these innovative therapies, emicizumab, and will provide an update on its current stage of clinical development.

Publication types

  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Bispecific / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use*
  • Blood Coagulation Factor Inhibitors / blood*
  • Factor VIII* / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Factor VIII* / metabolism
  • Factor VIIa / therapeutic use*
  • Hemophilia A* / blood
  • Hemophilia A* / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Isoantibodies / blood*
  • Recombinant Proteins / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bispecific
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Blood Coagulation Factor Inhibitors
  • Isoantibodies
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • emicizumab
  • F8 protein, human
  • Factor VIII
  • recombinant FVIIa
  • Factor VIIa