JW Jungwo Pharmaceutical's 'Hemlibra' Proven Effective in Improving Joint Pain in Patients with Hemophilia A

by Jeong Donghoon

Published 20 Feb.2025 09:20(KST)

Hemlibra by JW Pharmaceutical. Photo by JW Pharmaceutical

JW Pharmaceutical announced on the 20th that a study showing that the type A hemophilia treatment 'Hemlibra' improves patients' pain-related quality of life was recently published in the international journal 'Haemophilia.'

Hemlibra is an innovative drug that mimics the deficient blood coagulation factor VIII in patients with type A hemophilia, utilizing bispecific antibody technology that simultaneously binds to coagulation factors IX and X. Notably, it can be used by both antibody-positive patients who have developed resistance to existing treatments (factor VIII products) and antibody-negative patients, with a preventive effect lasting up to once every four weeks via subcutaneous injection. As of June last year, approximately 25,000 patients worldwide with type A hemophilia have been treated with Hemlibra.

Professor Cedric Hermans and his research team at the Catholic University Hospital of Leuven in Belgium conducted a study involving 504 patients with severe type A hemophilia who participated in the global phase 3 clinical trial of Hemlibra. The team observed changes in joint and swelling pain over 78 weeks after administering Hemlibra to adolescent and adult patients aged 12 and older.

About 80% of bleeding episodes in hemophilia patients occur in the joints, which is a major cause of joint pain. Previous studies have shown that 86% of 381 hemophilia patients with a history of joint bleeding experienced acute or chronic pain. This pain affects not only physical activity but also mental health, potentially lowering quality of life.

The study results showed that the proportion of patients reporting 'no or almost no swelling pain' increased from 37.0% before treatment to 84.0% at 13 weeks after treatment. Those reporting 'no or almost no joint pain' increased from 30.0% to 61.0%, and the proportion responding 'no or slight pain and discomfort' also improved from 71.0% to 81.0% during the same period. These pain improvements lasted up to 78 weeks.

In particular, among patients who had received preventive therapy with factor VIII products for more than six months, the proportion reporting 'no or almost no pain' related to swelling pain increased by 41.7% at 13 weeks after Hemlibra administration, and the same response rate for joint pain increased by 29.2%.

The researchers explained, "Continuous preventive treatment with Hemlibra reduces joint bleeding and recurrent intra-articular bleeding, which is likely to contribute to reducing pain associated with synovial inflammation," adding, "Hemlibra prophylaxis may provide additional benefits such as improved quality of life beyond the reduction in bleeding rates compared to factor VIII prophylaxis."

A JW Pharmaceutical official said, "Through this study, we hope that Hemlibra prophylaxis will contribute not only to bleeding prevention but also to improving the quality of life for patients with hemophilia."