Genentech’s Emicizumab Showed Positive Results in Phase III Studies (HAVEN 1 and HAVEN 2) in Hemophilia A
With Inhibitors
- Emicizumab showed substantial and clinically meaningful reduction in bleeds across two pivotal
studies
- Data from HAVEN 1 in adults and adolescents and interim data from HAVEN 2 in children to be
presented at the 26th International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) Meeting
Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), announced today positive data from the primary analysis of
the Phase III HAVEN 1 study in adults and adolescents and interim analysis of the Phase III HAVEN 2 study in children evaluating
once-weekly subcutaneous emicizumab prophylaxis (preventative) for the treatment of hemophilia A with inhibitors to factor VIII.
Data from both studies will be presented on July 10 at the 26th International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) Meeting
in Berlin, Germany.
The Phase III HAVEN 1 study compared emicizumab prophylaxis with on-demand (no prophylaxis; episodic use only) and prophylactic
use of bypassing agents (BPAs) in adults and adolescents with hemophilia A with inhibitors. The primary endpoint was treated
bleeds, and results showed a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in bleed rate of 87 percent (RR [risk
rate]=0.13, p<0.0001) with emicizumab prophylaxis compared to on-demand treatment with BPAs.
After a median observation time of 31 weeks, 62.9 percent of patients receiving emicizumab experienced zero treated bleeds
compared to 5.6 percent of those receiving on-demand BPAs. Reduction in bleed rate with emicizumab was consistent across all
secondary endpoints, including all bleeds (80 percent; RR=0.20, p<0.0001), treated spontaneous bleeds (92 percent; RR=0.08,
p≤0.0001), treated joint bleeds (89 percent; RR=0.11, p=0.0050) and treated target joint bleeds (95 percent; RR=0.05, p=0.0002)
compared to on-demand BPAs. Results also showed a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in health-related
quality of life (HRQoL) measured at 25 weeks, including Hem-A-QoL physical health domain and total score and EQ-5D-5L visual analog
scale and total utility score.
In an additional study arm (Arm C, n=49), patients who had previously received prophylaxis with BPAs received emicizumab
prophylaxis. A subset of patients in this arm (n=24) had previously participated in a non-interventional study (NIS), allowing for
a first-of-its-kind intra-patient analysis. This analysis showed a 79 percent (RR=0.21, p=0.0003) reduction in treated bleeds in
people receiving emicizumab compared to their prior prophylaxis with BPAs.
Adverse events (AEs) occurring in five percent or more of patients treated with emicizumab were injection site reactions,
headache, fatigue, upper respiratory tract infection and arthralgia. As previously reported, serious adverse events of
thromboembolic events (TE) and thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) occurred in two patients and three patients, respectively, while
receiving emicizumab prophylaxis. One event occurred after the clinical cut-off date for the primary analysis. The TE and TMA
events were associated with repeated high doses of a BPA, activated prothrombin complex concentrate, when used to treat
breakthrough bleeds.
Interim results from the single-arm HAVEN 2 study in children younger than 12 years of age with hemophilia A with inhibitors who
received emicizumab prophylaxis are consistent with the positive results from the HAVEN 1 study. After a median observation time of
12 weeks, the study showed that only one of 19 children receiving emicizumab reported a treated bleed. There were no reported joint
or muscle bleeds. An intra-patient comparison (n=8) in patients who were previously enrolled in the NIS showed that all patients
experienced a 100 percent reduction in treated bleeds following treatment with emicizumab (previous ABR ranged from 0 to 34.24);
this included seven children who had received prior BPA prophylaxis and one who had received prior on-demand BPA. The data also
indicate that the same dose of emicizumab is appropriate for children as for adults and adolescents, based on the levels of
emicizumab in the blood (pharmacokinetics) of the children compared with the level of emicizumab in the blood of adults and
adolescents. The most common AEs with emicizumab in the HAVEN 2 study were mild injection site reactions and common cold symptoms
(nasopharyngitis).
About HAVEN 1 (NCT02622321)
HAVEN 1 is a randomized, multicenter, open-label, Phase III study evaluating the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of
emicizumab prophylaxis compared to on-demand BPA (no prophylaxis; episodic use only) in adults and adolescents with hemophilia A
with inhibitors to factor VIII. The study included 109 patients (12 years of age or older) with hemophilia A with inhibitors to
factor VIII, who were previously treated with on-demand or prophylactic BPAs. Patients previously treated with on-demand BPAs were
randomized in a 2:1 fashion to receive emicizumab prophylaxis (Arm A) or no prophylaxis (Arm B). Patients previously treated with
prophylactic BPAs received emicizumab prophylaxis (Arm C). Additional patients previously on BPA (on-demand or prophylaxis) were
also enrolled in a separate arm (Arm D). On-demand treatment of breakthrough bleeds with BPAs was allowed per protocol in all
arms.
The primary endpoint of the study is the number of treated bleeds over time with emicizumab prophylaxis (Arm A) compared with no
prophylaxis (Arm B). Secondary endpoints include all bleed rate, joint bleed rate, spontaneous bleed rate, target joint bleed rate,
health-related quality of life (HRQoL)/health status, intra-patient comparison to bleed rate on their prior prophylaxis regimen
with BPAs (Arm C) or no prophylaxis (Arm A). The study also evaluated safety and pharmacokinetics.
A summary of the HAVEN 1 study results to be presented at ISTH is included below.
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Study Name
|
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HAVEN 1 (NCT02622321) |
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Study description
|
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Phase III randomized, multicenter, open-label study evaluating the efficacy, safety, and
pharmacokinetics of emicizumab prophylaxis versus no prophylaxis in people with hemophilia A with inhibitors to factor
VIII
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| Patients |
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Patients with hemophilia A with inhibitors aged ≥12 years on episodic or prophylactic treatment with
bypassing agent(s)
(N=109)
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Study group
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No prophylaxis (prior episodic BPAs)
(Arm B; n=18)
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Emicizumab prophylaxis (prior episodic BPAs)
(Arm A; n=35)
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| Treated bleeds ABR (primary endpoint) |
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Annualized bleeding rate
[ABR]*
(95% CI)
|
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23.3
(12.33; 43.89)
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2.9
(1.69; 5.02)
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| % reduction (RR, p-value) |
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87% reduction
(RR=0.13, p<0.0001)
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Median ABR
(Interquartile range; IQR)
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18.8
(12.97; 35.08)
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0.0
(0.00; 3.73)
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% patients with zero
bleeds (95% CI)
|
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5.6
(0.1; 27.3)
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|
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62.9
(44.9; 78.5)
|
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Treated bleeds ABR intra-patient comparison
(Arm C patients who participated in NIS n=24; secondary endpoint)
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| Study group |
|
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Prior prophylaxis with a BPA |
|
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Emicizumab prophylaxis |
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ABR*
(95% CI)
|
|
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15.7
(11.08; 22.29)
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|
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3.3
(1.33; 8.08)
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% reduction (RR, p-value)
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79% reduction
(RR=0.21, p=0.0003)
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| Median ABR (IQR) |
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12.0 (5.73; 24.22)
|
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0.0 (0.00; 2.23)
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% patients with zero
bleeds
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12.5
(2.7; 32.4)
|
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70.8
(48.9; 87.4)
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*Negative binomial regression model
|
| |
About HAVEN 2 (NCT02795767)
HAVEN 2 is a single-arm, multicenter, open-label, Phase III study evaluating the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of
once-weekly subcutaneous administration of emicizumab. The interim analysis after a median of 12 weeks of treatment included 19
children younger than 12 years of age with hemophilia A with inhibitors to factor VIII, who require treatment with BPAs. The
objectives of the study are to evaluate the number of treated bleeds over time with emicizumab prophylaxis, safety,
pharmacokinetics, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and proxy HRQoL with aspects of caregiver burden. The study will enroll a
total of 60 children for its final analysis planned after 52 weeks of treatment with emicizumab.
About emicizumab (ACE910)
Emicizumab is an investigational bispecific monoclonal antibody designed to bring together factors IXa and X, proteins required
to activate the natural coagulation cascade and restore the blood clotting process. Emicizumab can be administered by an injection
of a ready-to-use solution under the skin (subcutaneously) once weekly. Emicizumab is being evaluated in pivotal Phase III studies
in people 12 years of age and older, both with and without inhibitors to factor VIII, and in children under 12 years of age with
factor VIII inhibitors. Additional trials are exploring less frequent dosing schedules. The clinical development program is
assessing the safety and efficacy of emicizumab and its potential to help overcome current clinical challenges: the short-lasting
effects of existing treatments, the development of factor VIII inhibitors and the need for frequent venous access. Emicizumab was
created by Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and is being co-developed by Chugai, Roche and Genentech.
About hemophilia A
Hemophilia A is an inherited, serious disorder in which a person’s blood does not clot properly, leading to uncontrolled and
often spontaneous bleeding. Hemophilia A affects around 320,000 people worldwide, approximately 50-60 percent of whom have a severe
form of the disorder. People with hemophilia A either lack or do not have enough of a clotting protein called factor VIII. In a
healthy person, when a bleed occurs, factor VIII brings together the clotting factors IXa and X, which is a critical step in the
formation of a blood clot to help stop bleeding. Depending on the severity of their disorder, people with hemophilia A can bleed
frequently, especially into their joints or muscles. These bleeds can present a significant health concern as they often cause pain
and can lead to chronic swelling, deformity, reduced mobility and long-term joint damage. In addition to impacting a person’s
quality of life, these bleeds can be life threatening if they go into vital organs, such as the brain. A serious complication
of treatment is the development of inhibitors to factor VIII replacement therapies. Inhibitors are antibodies developed by the
body’s immune system that bind to and block the efficacy of replacement factor VIII, making it difficult, if not impossible to
obtain a level of factor VIII sufficient to control bleeding. Most people with hemophilia A who develop inhibitors will infuse BPA
therapies, either on-demand (episodic) or as prophylaxis, to control bleeding. This approach is known to be less effective and less
predictable than factor VIII replacement therapy in people with hemophilia A without inhibitors.
About Genentech in hemophilia
In 1984, Genentech scientists were the first to clone recombinant factor VIII in response to the contaminated hemophilia blood
supply crisis of the early 1980s. For more than 20 years, Genentech has been developing medicines to bring innovative treatment
options to people with diseases of the blood within oncology, and is investigating emicizumab as a potential treatment option for
hemophilia A. Genentech is committed to improving treatment and care in the hemophilia community by delivering meaningful science
and clinical expertise. For more information visit http://www.gene.com/hemophilia.
About Genentech
Founded more than 40 years ago, Genentech is a leading biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and
commercializes medicines to treat patients with serious or life-threatening medical conditions. The company, a member of the Roche
Group, has headquarters in South San Francisco, California. For additional information about the company, please visit http://www.gene.com.
Genentech
Media Contact:
Kimberly Muscara, 650-467-6800
or
Advocacy Contact:
Sonali Chopra, 650-467-0842
or
Investor Contact:
Neera Dahiya Ravindran, M.D., 650-491-5281
Karl Mahler, 011 41 61 687 8503
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