Nonreplacement therapy for hemophilia in low-income countries: experience from a prospective study in Ivory Coast

Abstract

Background: Hemophilia management has fundamentally evolved over the last decades with the development of ground-breaking therapies. Because of their mode of action and biochemical properties, these innovative therapies that are available in developed countries could be readily implemented among people from low-income countries who are either not or inadequately treated with clotting factor concentrates (CFCs).

Objectives: We aimed at evaluating the impact of prophylaxis with emicizumab, a bispecific monoclonal antibody mimicking the FVIII activity administered subcutaneously, among boys with severe hemophilia A (HA) from the Ivory Coast, where access to CFCs is limited to humanitarian aid.

Methods: We prospectively collected data on the implementation and outcomes of prophylaxis with emicizumab, in 33 Ivorian boys aged 2 to 13 years with severe HA (with and without inhibitors). Bleeds, CFC consumption, quality of life and satisfaction of the patients and their parents were assessed.

Results: Overall, 12 months after initiating emicizumab, a 99% reduction in bleeding rates was observed, with a raise from 18% to 100% of boys having zero spontaneous joint bleeds. Three boys required a single FVIII infusion following a traumatic bleed. Health-related quality of life measures significantly improved, and perception of treatment efficacy was positively rated in children and parents. Acceptance, tolerance, and adherence were excellent. Emicizumab was instrumental in successfully implementing uninterrupted, highly efficacious, and well-tolerated prophylaxis in 72% of the Ivorian children aged ≤ 13 years identified with severe hemophilia A.

Conclusion: These data illustrate how innovative and disruptive nonreplacement therapies that are already accessible in developed countries could potentially provide equity in care by profoundly and rapidly modifying hemophilia burden with a magnified impact in low-income countries.

Keywords: Ivory Coast; emicizumab; hemophilia A; innovative therapies; low-income countries.

Figure 1

EQ-5D-5L frequencies and proportions at T0 and T1 reported by dimension and level by the parents of children aged >4 years (n = 27)

Figure 2

EQ-5D-5L frequencies and proportions at T0 and T1 reported by dimension and level by the children aged >8 years (n = 17)

Figure 3

Proportion of the patient global impression of change (PGIC) scores of the parents (n = 33) and the children aged >8 years (n = 17) at T1