Biogen and Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (publ) (Sobi) will present new data, including updated longitudinal safety and efficacy findings from phase 3 and extension studies, on the companies’ extended half-life therapies, Eloctate [Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant), Fc Fusion Protein] (marketed as Elocta in Europe and the Middle East) for hemophilia A and Alprolix [Coagulation Factor IX (Recombinant), Fc Fusion Protein] for hemophilia B, at the 58th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition in San Diego, California, from December 3-6.

The presentations include efficacy data, which show low target joint annual bleeding rates and effective target joint resolution (=2 spontaneous bleeding episodes over one year) in pediatric, adolescent and adult patients on long-term prophylaxis with Eloctate. Target joints occur when people with hemophilia experience frequent bleeds in the same joint, and can lead to chronic joint disease. An 18% improvement in hemophilia-related quality of life measures (Haem-A-QOL) was seen in adolescents and adults who experienced target joint resolution with prophylactic treatment with Eloctate as compared to baseline measurements at phase 3 study entry, with the most impact (= 20%) in areas such as physical health, sports and leisure, and work and school.

Biogen will also present preclinical data on recombinant FIXFc-XTEN, a fusion protein being investigated for once-weekly, subcutaneous treatment of hemophilia B. The rFIXFc-XTEN program is currently being developed solely by Biogen and utilizes XTEN technology licensed from Amunix. Depending on Biogen’s development activities and other factors, it is subject to an opt-in right by Sobi in the future.

“The data presented at ASH, coupled with the real-world experience of Eloctate and Alprolix, may help patients, clinicians and policymakers better understand the long-term safety and sustained efficacy profile for these therapies,” said Maha Radhakrishnan, MD, vice president, medical, at Biogen and head of medical at Bioverativ Inc., a spin-off of Biogen’s hemophilia business that is on track to launch in early 2017. “We also remain deeply committed to developing new treatments that can make a meaningful impact in the lives of people with hemophilia.”

“We are encouraged to see data that show Eloctate can improve the quality of life for people with hemophilia A,” said Krassimir Mitchev, MD, PhD, vice president and medical therapeutic area head of Haemophilia at Sobi. “Sobi, together with Biogen, is strongly committed to ensuring sustainable access to Eloctate/Elocta for people living with hemophilia A across our respective markets.”

Eloctate and Alprolix have more than two years of real-world experience and are the only hemophilia therapies developed using Fc fusion technology, which enables them to use the body's natural pathway to prolong the time the therapies remain in the body.

These therapies and rFIXFc-XTEN are part of Biogen’s hemophilia business, which Biogen plans to spin off into Bioverativ, an independent, public company focused on the discovery, research, development and commercialization of treatments for hemophilia and other rare blood disorders. Bioverativ will continue to collaborate with Sobi on their joint development programs.

Hemophilia is a rare, genetic disorder in which the ability of a person's blood to clot is impaired. Hemophilia A occurs in about one in 5,000 male births annually, and more rarely in females. Hemophilia B occurs in about one in 25,000 male births annually, and more rarely in females. The World Federation of Hemophilia estimates that approximately 180,000 people are currently diagnosed with hemophilia A and B worldwide.

People with hemophilia A or B experience bleeding episodes that can cause pain, irreversible joint damage and life-threatening hemorrhages. Prophylactic infusions of factor VIII or IX can temporarily replace the clotting factors that are needed to control bleeding and prevent new bleeding episodes. The World Federation of Hemophilia recommends prophylaxis as the optimal therapy as it can prevent bleedings and joint destruction.

Eloctate [Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant), Fc Fusion Protein] is a recombinant clotting factor therapy developed for hemophilia A using Fc fusion technology to prolong circulation in the body. It is engineered by fusing factor VIII to the Fc portion of immunoglobulin G subclass 1, or IgG1 (a protein commonly found in the body), enabling Eloctate to use a naturally occurring pathway to extend the time the therapy remains in the body. While Fc fusion technology has been used for more than 15 years, Biogen and Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (publ) (Sobi) have optimized the technology and are the first companies to utilize it in the treatment of hemophilia. Eloctate is manufactured using a human cell line in an environment free of animal and human additives.

Eloctate is approved in the United States, Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, and other countries, and Biogen has marketing rights in these regions. It is also approved in the European Union, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and other countries where it is approved as Elocta and marketed by Sobi.

As with any factor replacement therapy, allergic-type hypersensitivity reactions and development of inhibitors may occur in the treatment of hemophilia A. Inhibitor development has been observed with Eloctate/Elocta, including in previously untreated patients.

Alprolix [Coagulation Factor IX (Recombinant), Fc Fusion Protein], is a recombinant clotting factor therapy developed for hemophilia B using Fc fusion technology to prolong circulation in the body . It is engineered by fusing factor IX to the Fc portion of immunoglobulin G subclass 1, or IgG1 (a protein commonly found in the body), enabling ALPROLIX to use a naturally occurring pathway to extend the time the therapy remains in the body (half-life). Alprolix is manufactured using a human cell line in an environment free of animal and human additives.

Alprolix is approved for the treatment of hemophilia B in the United States, Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil and other countries, and Biogen has marketing rights in these regions. It is also approved in the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and other countries, where it is marketed by Sobi.

Allergic-type hypersensitivity reactions and development of inhibitors have been observed with Alprolix in the treatment of hemophilia B, including in previously untreated patients.