Transitioning from emicizumab prophylaxis to valoctocogene roxaparvovec gene therapy: A simulation study for individuals with severe haemophilia A.

INTRODUCTION: Valoctocogene roxaparvovec, a gene therapy evaluated in the phase 3 GENEr8-1 trial, supports endogenous factor VIII (FVIII) production to prevent bleeding in people with severe haemophilia A. Individuals receiving emicizumab, an antibody mimicking the function of activated FVIII, were excluded from GENEr8-1 enrolment since emicizumab was an investigational therapy at the time of trial initiation.

AIM: Utilize pharmacokinetic simulations to provide guidance on best practices for maintaining haemostatic control while transitioning from emicizumab prophylaxis to valoctocogene roxaparvovec.

METHODS: To estimate bleeding risk at weekly intervals following valoctocogene roxaparvovec infusion, a published emicizumab pharmacokinetic model was used to simulate emicizumab concentrations and merged with FVIII activity time-course data for participants in GENEr8-1. The analysis investigated three approved emicizumab dosing regimens for two transition scenarios that varied whether the last dose of emicizumab was administered on the same day or 4 weeks after valoctocogene roxaparvovec infusion.

RESULTS: Simulations demonstrated administering the last emicizumab dose the day of valoctocogene roxaparvovec infusion and 4 weeks after offered similar levels of haemostatic control, and bleeding risk was similar for all emicizumab dosing regimens. An algorithm was developed to provide guidance for discontinuation of emicizumab. Theoretical cases based on GENEr8-1 participants are presented to illustrate how decisions may vary among individuals.

CONCLUSION: Pharmacokinetic simulations demonstrated no clinically meaningful difference in bleeding risk caused by decaying emicizumab levels and rising gene therapy-derived endogenous FVIII for all examined emicizumab doses and dosing regimens. Therefore, multiple approaches can safely transition individuals from emicizumab prophylaxis to valoctocogene roxaparvovec.