The International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH), the European Association for Haemophilia and Allied Disorders (EAHAD), and the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) are issuing a statement and urgent call-to-action for a continued commitment to innovation and access in hemophilia care.
Over the past decade, hemophilia treatment has advanced significantly from traditional intravenous factor replacement to subcutaneous substitution therapies, rebalancing agents, and gene therapies.
These innovations offer significantly improved outcomes and quality of life for people with hemophilia, including those with mild or moderate disease, women, and individuals with related bleeding disorders.
In recent years, three gene therapies—ROCTAVIAN, HEMGENIX, and BEQVEZ—have received regulatory approval, marking a historic milestone. Concerningly, several companies have recently discontinued, halted or scaled back gene therapy programs, citing limited interest from the community and commercial uncertainty.
Claims of disinterest from the hemophilia community are misleading and jeopardize the progress of gene therapy advancements. Current slow adoption is significantly linked to commercial uncertainties, fragmented health-care systems, reimbursement challenges, long-term outcome uncertainties, and systemic barriers—not a lack of interest and/or need.
More than ever, scientific-medical societies and patient communities call for and support the development of safe, effective gene and other novel hemophilia therapies.
The ISTH, EAHAD, and WFH urge all stakeholders—industry, regulators, payors, funders, researchers, clinicians, and patients to:
- Sustain research, investment and clinical developments in innovative and advanced therapies including gene therapies and non-replacement therapies
- Optimize and expand access to existing treatments worldwide
- Decrease unnecessary burdens in clinical development and drug approval processes
- Develop clear, fair reimbursement frameworks
- Strengthen global collaboration, research and education
The future of hemophilia care depends on collective action. Innovation and access to treatments must remain a priority so that all people with hemophilia wherever they live can benefit from safe, effective, and life-changing therapies.
To read the full statement and call to action, please click here (“Critical Juncture in the Development of Hemophilia Therapies A Statement and Call-to-Action from the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH)European Association for Haemophilia and Allied Disorders (EAHAD) World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) for the importance of continued research into and development of effective and safe hemophilia treatments”).
In addition to ISTH, EAHAD and WFH, this statement is endorsed by the following organizations:
American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy
Asian-Pacific Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis
Association for Haemophilia and Allied Disorders-Asia Pacific
European Haemophilia Consortium
European Society for Gene and Cell Therapy
Grupo Collectivo Latinoamericano de Hemostasis y Trombosis
National Bleeding Disorders Foundation