JW Pharmaceutical's Hemlibra (emicizumab), a treatment for Hemophilia A, has been shown to enable patients to engage in various physical activities without increasing bleeding risk, according to recent research published in the international journal Haemophilia. The company announced this development on August 11.
Hemlibra is an innovative drug that mimics the body's missing coagulation Factor VIII, essential for blood clotting. It is the only treatment among Hemophilia A therapies that can be used in both inhibitor and non-inhibitor patients. The medication provides prevention with subcutaneous injections once every 4 weeks, and in May 2023, its coverage was expanded to include patients aged one year and older with severe Hemophilia A, regardless of inhibitor status.
A team led by Kagehiro Amano from the Department of Diagnostic Medicine at Tokyo Medical University conducted a study from January 2019 to October 2021, involving 129 non-inhibitor Hemophilia A patients with an average age of 29.7 years.
Using the electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) app and wearable activity trackers, researchers evaluated patients’ exercise types, intensity, bleeding incidents, and safety following Hemlibra administration.
Among the participants, 73 patients recorded their activities during 8-day exercise periods at weeks 5, 25, 49, 73, and 97. A total of 968 exercise cases were reported, including 58 high-risk activities such as football, marathons, and weightlifting.
Walking was the most common activity with 374 reports (38.6%), followed by cycling with 112 (11.6%) and full-body stretching with 84 (8.7%). The median exercise intensity, measured in metabolic equivalents (MET), was 2.39 METs across all activities, and the highest recorded MET was 4.30 on average, indicating moderate effort. The median daily exercise duration was 30 minutes, comparable to the general guideline of 60 minutes per day at 3 METs.
The annual bleeding rate (ABR) among the 129 patients was a median of 0.5 bleeds per year. Bleeding incidents related to exercise were rare, with only two cases: one traumatic bleed from a soccer ball impact and another during fishing. No adverse reactions related to Hemlibra were reported.
The researchers concluded, “This study confirms that patients treated with Hemlibra can participate in various physical activities without fear of bleeding, and the health benefits of exercise can be enjoyed safely.” They emphasized that these findings support improved quality of life for Hemophilia A patients through safe activity.
Based on these results, JW Pharmaceutical plans to strengthen its marketing efforts aimed at helping patients with Hemophilia A lead healthier, more active lives.
A JW Pharmaceuticals representative stated, “Since the exercise levels performed by patients were similar to those recommended for the general population, we expect Hemlibra to enable patients to enjoy routine activities without increased bleeding risk.”
