Octapharma's ongoing commitment to enhancing lives of rare bleeding disorder patients highlighted at ISTH 2024

Octapharma AG recently announced its participation in the 32nd Congress of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) from June 22-26, 2024, in Bangkok, Thailand. At this key international event, Octapharma will present the latest data and clinical study developments from its Haematology portfolio through seven oral presentations, two poster presentations, and two Supported Symposia. As a proud Silver Supporter of the Congress, Octapharma aims to showcase innovative solutions for managing acute bleeding and coagulation in critical and intensive care settings.

Bleeding disorders such as haemophilia A and von Willebrand disease (VWD) are associated with recurrent and prolonged bleeds, posing significant risks to patients' lives and impacting their quality of life and mental health. The research and findings presented by Octapharma at ISTH 2024 underscore the company's dedication to enhancing patient care and addressing unmet clinical needs.

Olaf Walter, a Board Member at Octapharma, expressed enthusiasm about sharing the latest research findings and study results from their haematology and critical care portfolios. Walter highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by patients with bleeding and coagulation disorders and reaffirmed Octapharma's commitment to frontline research aimed at improving patient outcomes.

Key Oral Presentations

- Prophylaxis in VWD: The WIL-31 study, the largest of its kind, has demonstrated the safety and efficacy of prophylaxis using a plasma-derived von Willebrand factor/factor VIII concentrate (wilate®) in VWD patients. Dr. Robert F. Sidonio Jr. will present sub-analyses focusing on differences in bleed sites across VWD types and age groups.

- Haemophilia A Management: The MOTIVATE study, an international investigation supported by Octapharma, evaluates the management of haemophilia A patients with inhibitors. Dr. Carmen Escuriola-Ettingshausen will present an interim analysis of this study.

- Biomarkers for Haemophilic Arthropathy: A proof-of-concept study identified specific microRNAs as potential biomarkers for diagnosing haemophilic arthropathy, with future research aimed at earlier detection in the PROVE clinical trial.

- Microvascular Endothelial Functionality in Haemophilia A: New data will be presented showing that Nuwiq® can bind to endothelial cell surfaces, thereby enhancing their functionality.

- FVIII and Platelet Binding: Another study will reveal that Nuwiq® exhibits significantly higher binding to platelets compared to other products, which may influence the efficacy of different recombinant FVIII products in treating haemophilia A.

Key Poster Presentations

- Prophylaxis Efficacy Comparison: Craig M. Kessler will present an indirect comparison of the efficacy of different prophylaxis treatments for severe haemophilia A and their associated costs in the United States.

- Stability of FVIII/VWF Complexes: Barbara Solecka-Witulska will discuss the increased stability and half-life of covalently linked complexes of FVIII and von Willebrand factor fragments in animal models.

Supported Symposia Details

- Breakthrough in Bleed Protection: This symposium, chaired by Guy Young, will present the first interim results from the MOTIVATE study, introduce the PROVE study focusing on bone and joint health, and explore the role of FVIII binding to platelets and endothelial cells in haemophilia A.

- Prophylaxis in VWD: Chaired by Craig Kessler, this symposium will delve into the importance of prophylaxis for severe VWD, sharing key lessons from the WIL-31 study and discussing the management of heavy menstrual bleeding in women with VWD, among other topics.

Both symposia will be available to participants both in-person and via live stream, with opportunities to ask questions.

About Nuwiq® and wilate®

Nuwiq® is a 4th generation recombinant factor VIII (rFVIII) protein used for treating and preventing bleeding in haemophilia A patients. It is produced in a human cell line, avoiding chemical modifications or fusion with other proteins, and is devoid of non-human protein epitopes.

wilate® is a high-purity human von Willebrand factor/factor VIII (VWF/FVIII) concentrate used for preventing and treating bleeding in VWD and haemophilia A patients. It undergoes two virus inactivation steps during production and is derived from large pools of human plasma.

About Octapharma

Headquartered in Lachen, Switzerland, Octapharma is one of the largest human protein manufacturers globally. The company develops and produces human proteins from plasma and human cell lines, employing nearly 12,000 employees worldwide. Octapharma supports treatments in 118 countries with products across immunotherapy, hematology, and critical care.

The ISTH 2024 Congress promises to be a significant platform for Octapharma to highlight its pioneering research and commitment to advancing patient care in the field of haematology.

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