Publication in NEJM of one-year results from phase III pivotal trial with valoctocogese roxaparvovec gene therapy in severe hemophilia A.- BioMarin

The article titled, "Valoctocogene Roxaparvovec Gene Therapy for Hemophilia A," reports one year or more of follow-up data from the study and is referenced in an editorial published in the same issue of the Journal acknowledging the potential benefit of zero bleeds and avoiding the use of prophylactic therapy.

The original research article reports that following a single infusion of valoctocogene roxaparvovec participants experienced substantially reduced annualized bleeding rates, reduced factor VIII utilization, and increased factor VIII activity, than they did in the year prior to study enrollment. In the pre-specified rollover population consisting of 112 participants enrolled from a prospective noninterventional study, mean annualized factor VIII concentrate use and mean treated bleeding rates after week 4 decreased post-infusion by 99% and 84%, respectively (both P<0.001).></0.001).>

Overall, 121/134 (90%) participants had either no treated bleeds or fewer treated bleeds after infusion, compared with factor VIII prophylaxis as documented in the noninterventional study. At weeks 49–52, 88% of participants had median factor VIII activity of 5 IU/dL or higher, as measured using the chromogenic substrate (CS) assay.

Valoctocogene Roxaparvovec Safety : This is the most current safety information from a two-year analysis of the Phase III GENEr8-1 study and covers overall safety of valoctocogene roxaparvovec. The safety included in the NEJM publication is based on a one-year analysis. All participants in the Phase III study received a single 6e13 vg/kg dose. No participants developed inhibitors to Factor VIII, malignancy, or thromboembolic events. During year two, no new safety signals emerged, and no treatment-related serious adverse events (SAE) were reported. Most patients had discontinued any corticosteroid (CS) use in year one, and there were no CS-related SAEs in the remaining patients being tapered off CS in year two.

Overall, the most common adverse events (AE) associated with valoctocogene roxaparvovec occurred early and included transient infusion associated reactions and mild to moderate rise in liver enzymes with no long-lasting clinical sequelae. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation (119 participants, 89%), a laboratory test of liver function, remained the most common AE. Other common adverse events were headache (55 participants, 41%), arthralgia (53 participants, 40%), nausea (51 participants, 38%), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) elevation (47 participants, 35%), and fatigue (40 participants, 30%). In a Phase 1/II study, an SAE of a salivary gland mass was identified in one study participant, who was treated more than five years ago, and was reported as unrelated to valoctocogene roxaparvovec by the investigator. The relevant health authorities were notified in late 2021, and all studies remain ongoing without modification. The independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) further reviewed the case. A genomic analysis is being conducted as prespecified in the clinical trial protocol.

"Breakthrough bleeding represents a high burden of disease management and an unmet medical need for many people. I am encouraged that during the first year of treatment, 90% of study participants had either zero treated bleeds or fewer treated bleeds post-infusion than with factor VIII prophylaxis," said Margareth C. Ozelo, MD, PhD, Director, Hemocentro UNICAMP, University of Campinas and Lead Principal Investigator of the GENEr8-1 Study. "These results reflect the potential for sustained hemostatic bleed control with this gene therapy for hemophilia A.".

See-"Valoctocogene Roxaparvovec Gene Therapy for Hemophilia A".-M.C. Ozelo and Others. N Engl J Med 2022; 386:1013-1025.