STEP: Prevention of Bleeding in Patients With Moderate and Severe Hemophilia A Playing Sports: A Comparison Between Factor VIII and Emicizumab Prophylaxis

Sponsor
Wayne State University (Other)
Overall Status
Not yet recruiting
CT.gov ID
NCT05022459
Collaborator
Genentech, Inc. (Industry)
120
56

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

Hemophilia A (HA) is a genetic bleeding disorder resulting from a deficiency or absence of factor VIII (FVIII), which is necessary in the clotting process. This disorder occurs mostly in males and in severe cases causes frequent bleeding episodes in joints and muscles which can lead to progressive damage that affects mobility and quality of life. Prophylactic FVIII administered intravenously every other day has been the standard of care treatment for HA for the past few decades.

Sports and physical activity are generally encouraged in patients with hemophilia on appropriate prophylactic treatment to increase strength, prevent or decrease obesity, accrue and maintain bone density and encourage normal socialization. To ensure safety with participation in sports in persons with hemophilia A (PWHA), timing of FVIII administration is often adjusted to maximize FVIII at the time of sports. The exact factor level that is needed to safely participate in sports and minimize bleeding risk is not yet known. Based on clinical practice, infusion of FVIII to near the lower limit of normal right before participation in sports generally works to prevent bleeding.

The study is looking at how well the newly approved medication Emicizumab works compared to Factor VIII to prevent bleeding in patients with Hemophilia A who play sports. The study will enroll children and adolescents who are already on Emicizumab or Factor VIII who are currently playing sports.

Condition or Disease Intervention/Treatment Phase

Detailed Description

Hemophilia A (HA) is a genetic bleeding disorder resulting from a deficiency or absence of factor VIII (FVIII) which is necessary in the clotting process. This disorder occurs mostly in males and in severe cases causes frequent bleeding episodes in joints and muscles which can lead to progressive damage that affects mobility and quality of life. Intravenous prophylactic (preventative) treatment is the standard of care used in minimizing bleeding events and complications. Since the 1990s recombinant FVIII (rFVIII) concentrates have been standard of care treatment options for patients with hemophilia A. Prophylactic treatment is burdensome because it requires self-administered intravenous infusions several (3-4) times a week and prophylactic FVIII does not completely prevent bleeding.

Sports and physical activity are generally encouraged in patients with hemophilia on appropriate prophylactic treatment to increase strength, prevent or decrease obesity, accrue and maintain bone density and encourage normal socialization. To ensure safety with participation in sports in persons with hemophilia A (PWHA), timing of FVIII administration is frequently adjusted to maximize FVIII at the time of sports. The exact factor level that is needed to safely participate in sports and minimize bleeding risk is not yet known. Based on clinical practice, infusion of FVIII to near the lower limit of normal right before participation in sports generally works to prevent bleeding.

Emicizumab is an engineered antibody that mimics what activated factor VIII does in the blood to help it clot. Emicizumab is an antibody and is present in the blood for a long time and approximately 50% of an injected dose is still circulating in the blood 4 weeks later; this permits less frequent dosing (Anywhere from once a week to once every 4 weeks). Emicizumab can be injected under the skin (subcutaneous) instead of having to be injected into a vein (intravenous). Emicizumab's convenience compared to FVIII, reduced bleeding rate, and in many cases decreased annual cost, have led to its adoption by many patients with HA. Emicizumab does not completely normalize hemostasis (the physiological process that stops bleeding) and although the exact comparison of hemostatic correction on maintenance doses of Emicizumab to that with FVIII replacement cannot be determined with existing assays, it has been clinically demonstrated that Emicizumab changes the bleeding characteristics of a patient with severe hemophilia A to a milder profile. While this may provide sufficient protection to prevent spontaneous bleeding into the joints, it remains unknown if this is sufficient to prevent activity/sports related joint bleeds (especially activities with moderate to high risk of bleeding).

A disadvantage of Emicizumab prophylaxis is that the steady state produced with Emicizumab prophylaxis does not allow dosing at the time of sports participation. One major question is whether the "steady state" levels of hemostasis achieved with Emicizumab are enough to prevent joint damage with sports participation, and whether there is a threshold of participant age or size or activity intensity above which Emicizumab is not generally adequate.

Emicizumab use permits maintenance of "steady state" hemostasis in the range of mild hemophilia without frequent infusions. Studying patients taking Emicizumab while engaging in sports permits us to study the effects of participation in physical activity with steady state hemostasis levels in the range of mild hemophilia compared to peak hemostatic levels from factor infusions given immediately before engaging in activity/sports. This is a crucial factor in the decision-making process for physicians making treatment recommendations to optimize preventive therapy for physically active people with hemophilia A.

The purpose of this investigator-initiated study is to better understand the safety of sports in people with Hemophilia A, the breakthrough bleed rates, and the types of bleeds related to sports activities in patients on Emicizumab vs traditional FVIII prophylaxis. This information will help in the decision-making process for physicians making treatment recommendations for physically active people with hemophilia A.

Study Design

Study Type:
Observational
Anticipated Enrollment :
120 participants
Observational Model:
Cohort
Time Perspective:
Prospective
Official Title:
Prevention of Bleeding in Patients With Moderate and Severe Hemophilia A Playing Sports: A Comparison Between Factor VIII and Emicizumab Prophylaxis -STEP: SporTs Emicizumab Prophylaxis
Anticipated Study Start Date :
May 1, 2022
Anticipated Primary Completion Date :
Dec 1, 2026
Anticipated Study Completion Date :
Jan 1, 2027

Arms and Interventions

Arm Intervention/Treatment
Emicizumab Prophylaxis

This group will include patients on standard of care Emicizumab prophylaxis for Hemophilia A

Drug: Emicizumab
Patients in this group will be on standard of care Emicizumab prophylaxis for Hemophilia A

FVIII Prophylaxis

This group will include patients on standard of care FVIII prophylaxis for Hemophilia A

Drug: FVIII
Patients in this group will be on standard of care FVIII prophylaxis for Hemophilia A

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

  1. Number of bleeds [3 years]

    Number of bleeds without trauma, during participation in sports activities

Secondary Outcome Measures

  1. Change in HJHS scores [3 years]

    Change in Hemophilia Joint Health Scores (HJHS). The HJHS provides a total score (higher score is worse; max=124), joint specific scores, and a global gait score.

  2. Change in bone mineral density [3 years]

    Change in bone mineral density as measured by DEXA Scan

  3. Change in biomarkers of bone and joint health [3 years]

    Change in biomarkers of bone and joint health as measured by (sRANKL (osteoclastogenesis), CTX-1 (Bone resorption), CS846 (cartilage repair) and IL-1 beta, IL6 and TNF-alpha (markers of inflammation).

  4. Number of FVIII doses for breakthrough bleeding episodes [3 years]

    Number of doses of factor needed to treat breakthrough bleeding episodes

  5. MRI changes in relevant joints [3 years]

    MRI changes in relevant joints (The joint to be imaged will be determined based on the sport activity; joints most involved in the activity will be imaged).

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:
6 Years to 18 Years
Sexes Eligible for Study:
Male
Inclusion Criteria:
  1. Participant (if 18 years of age or older) or parent/LAR is willing and able to provide written informed consent; minor participant is willing and able to provide assent, if applicable based on site and local regulations

  2. Male participants with moderate to severe Hemophilia A ( FVIII activity </= 5%) between 6 to <19 years of age without inhibitors are eligible for participation in this study

  3. Participants must be on Emicizumab or standard FVIII prophylaxis per institutional/primary hematologist recommendations

  4. Participants must be engaging in sports activities with moderate to high risk of bleeding as defined by the NHF- Play it safe guidelines

  5. Participants must be compliant with completing all bleed and treatment logs

  6. Participant must be compliant with use of wearable activity tracker

Exclusion Criteria:
  1. Participant/parent/LAR unwilling to provide informed consent/assent

  2. Unwilling to log or document bleeds and treatment information as per study guidelines

  3. Participants with any other bleeding disorders will be excluded

  4. Participants on concomittent FVIII replacement and emicizumab for sports participation

Contacts and Locations

Locations

No locations specified.

Sponsors and Collaborators

  • Wayne State University
  • Genentech, Inc.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Meera Chitlur, MD, Wayne State University

Study Documents (Full-Text)

None provided.

More Information

Publications

None provided.
Responsible Party:
Meera Chitlur, Director, Hemophilia Treatment Center and Hemostasis Program, Principal Investigator, Clinical Professor, Wayne State University
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT05022459
Other Study ID Numbers:
  • STEP Study
First Posted:
Aug 26, 2021
Last Update Posted:
Mar 7, 2022
Last Verified:
Mar 1, 2022
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:
No
Plan to Share IPD:
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product:
Yes
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product:
No
Product Manufactured in and Exported from the U.S.:
Yes
Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Study Results

No Results Posted as of Mar 7, 2022