The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved BEQVEZ™ (Pfizer, Inc.), a new hemophilia B gene therapy product. It is designed with bioengineered adeno-associated virus (AAVs) vectors to introduce a working copy of the factor IX gene. The therapy is administered as a one-time intravenous infusion to stimulate the long-term production of clotting factor IX (FIX) and prevent bleeding. This represents the second hemophilia B gene therapy product to be approved in the U.S.

New documents issued by NBDF’s Medical and Scientific Advisory Council (MASAC) cover a wide range of topics relevant to bleeding disorder patients in the U.S. and abroad. They encompass recommendations for treatment with licensed therapies, chronic pain management and physical therapy, gene therapy terminology, and bleeding disorders diagnosis in women and girls. Also included are two new resolutions challenging international recommendations that could contribute to negative health and quality of life implications for patients.