Hemophilia B

Hemophilia B is a lifelong bleeding disorder in which the blood does not clot properly because of an inherited deficiency of factor IX (FIX).1

As with Hemophilia A, the gene for encoding FIX is on the X chromosome (recessive), which means Hemophilia B occurs primarily in males.1 Females are typically carriers of the gene and can pass it on to their children, but can occasionally be symptomatic carriers.

Hemophilia B illustration

Epidemiology

Globally, it is estimated that more than 1.1 million males have hemophilia, including 418,000 with severe hemophilia.1 Hemophilia B accounts for an estimated 15-20% of cases worldwide.

Within the U.S., it is estimated that 1 in 19,283 males are born with Hemophilia B.2 Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that the total number of patients with Hemophilia B in the U.S., between 2012 and 2022, was 7,253.3

According to the hemophilia treatment centers population profile (HTC PP), about 28.1% of male patients with Hemophilia B have mild disease, 40.9% have moderate disease, and 30.0% have severe disease.4

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of hemophilia is based on 3 principles:1

  • Suspecting hemophilia when the following symptoms are present: easy bruising, spontaneous bleeding, excessive bleeding post-trauma or -surgery, or early symptoms of joint bleeds in children
  • Screening tests: abnormally prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) with normal prothrombin time (PT) and normal platelet count
  • Confirming tests: specific factor assays to determine level of FVIII or FIX in the blood. Severe Hemophilia B is defined as <1% of normal FIX, moderate is 1-5% of normal FIX, and mild is 5-40% of normal FIX

A surveillance project evaluating 864 male infants with hemophilia seen at U.S. hemophilia treatment centers (aged 0 to 2 years) found that 73% of them were diagnosed by 1 month of age.5 The diagnosis in these cases was prompted by a known carrier mother (47.2% of cases), a family history (23.2% of cases), and a bleeding event or unusual bruising (28.8% of cases).

In approximately one-third of severe cases there is no known family history, suggesting a spontaneous mutation.1,5

Pathophysiology

Hemophilia B is caused by a variety of inherited or spontaneous mutations in the gene encoding FIX.1

FIX plays a key role in the contact activation pathway, or intrinsic pathway, for blood coagulation following an injury.6 Following damage to endothelial surface, FIX is cleaved by Factor VIIa into its active form, FIXa. FIXa, in turn, cleaves Factor X to create Factor Xa, which is instrumental in the generation of thrombin, necessary for the formation of fibrin clots.

The level of deficiency in functional FIX, as detected in factor assays, is associated with the severity of bleeding symptoms in Hemophilia B.1

Navigating Hemophilia B

Joints (most commonly the elbow, knee, and ankle) are the site of approximately 92% of bleeds in severe hemophilia.1,7 Other common sites of bleeding are the muscles, the brain, and mucosal tissues (mouth, epistaxis, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary tract).1 Recurrent bleeding into the same joint may eventually cause hypertrophic synovitis, progressive cartilage degradation, hemophilic arthropathy, and significant impairment of joint function.7,8

Treatment of Hemophilia B involves replacement therapy in which the deficient endogenous FIX is replaced via intravenous infusion.9,10 The standard of care in Hemophilia B has shifted towards prophylactic treatment, with the goal of preventing all bleeds, rather than on-demand or episodic treatment in response to a bleeding episode. World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) guidelines recommend individualized prophylaxis based on bleeding phenotype, joint status, individual pharmacokinetics, and patient self-assessment and preference.1

The most severe treatment-related complication in hemophilia is the development of inhibitors, which are alloantibodies to administered factor replacement therapy.11 The lifetime incidence of inhibitors is lower in Hemophilia B than in Hemophilia A (3-5% of severe Hemophilia B patients vs 25-30% of severe Hemophilia A patients). In contrast with FVIII inhibitors, FIX inhibitors are associated with severe anaphylactic reactions to the infusion of FIX-containing products in about half of patients with inhibitors.

Upcoming & Past Conferences in Hematology

  • Upcoming

  • Past

Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy Nexus (AMCP Nexus), 2024

October 14 - 17, 2024 | Link to Event

Annual event with more than 2,500 members and non-members of the AMCP to engage on the latest innovations and most intentional networking in managed care pharmacy.

American Thrombosis and Hemostasis Network Data Summit (ATHN Data Summit), 2024

October 22 - 23, 2024 | Link to Event

Annual meeting discussing important research areas of hemophilia, health equity, thrombosis, Von Willebrand disease, rare blood disorders, and data management.

American Society of Hematology (ASH), 2024

December 7 - 12, 2024 | Link to Event

The premier global congress from the world's largest professional society serving both clinicians and scientists working in malignant and classical hematology.

Bleeding Disorders Conference (BDC), 2024

September 12 - 14, 2024

The National Bleeding Disorders Foundation (formally NHF)’s Annual Bleeding Disorders Conference brings the bleeding disorders community together for educational sessions, networking opportunities, and exhibits.

International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH), 2024

June 22 - 26, 2024

Global congress featuring the world’s leading experts on thrombosis, hemostasis and vascular biology presenting the most recent advances, the latest science, and the newest clinical applications designed to improve patient care.

  • Global Prevalence of Anticoagulant Reversal for Major Bleeding and Urgent Surgery in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and Venous Thromboembolism: A Systematic Review of Data from 38 Countries

Adynovate® [Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant), PEGylated] & Advate® [Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant)] & "other FVIII replacement therapies"

  • Physical Activity Engagement and Health-Related Quality Of Life in Patients with Hemophilia A Receiving Either Octocog Alfa Or Rurioctocog Alfa Pegol Versus Other FVIII Replacement Therapies
  • Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Hemophilia A Receiving Octocog Alfa or Rurioctocog Alfa Pegol Versus Other FVIII Replacement Therapies: Insights From The Ahead, CHESS II, and CHESS PAEDS Studies
  • The Impact of Recombinant Factor VIII Products on Inhibitor Development in Previously Untreated and Previously Treated Children with Hemophilia A: A Systematic Review

Ceprotin® [Protein C Concentrate (Human)]

  • High-Concentration Protein C Concentrate: In Vitro and In Vivo Feasibility Studies
  • Pharmacokinetics of Protein C in Neonates with Severe Congenital Protein C Deficiency
  • Pharmacokinetics of Protein C Concentrate After Intravenous and Subcutaneous Administration in Göttingen Minipigs

Obizur® [Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant), Porcine Sequence]

  • Evaluation of Factor VIII Population Pharmacokinetics and Exposure-Response to Support Dosing of Recombinant Porcine Factor VIII in Patients with Acquired Hemophilia A

TAK-330 (4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate [4F-PCC])

  • A Phase 3 Trial of TAK-330 (4-Factor Prothrombin Complex Concentrate [4F-PCC]) vs Standard-Of-Care 4F-PCCs for FXa Inhibitor-Induced Anticoagulation Reversal Before Urgent Surgery/Invasive Procedure

Prothromplex® (Human Prothrombin Complex)

  • Safety Assessment of Prothromplex®, a 4-Factor Prothrombin Complex Concentrate, Focused on Heparin-Related Adverse Events

Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR), 2024

May 5 - 8, 2024

Leading global conference discussing how to establish, incentivize, and share value sustainable for health systems, patients, and technology developers.

Thrombosis and Hemostasis Societies of North America (THSNA), 2024

April 4 - 6, 2024

A summit of 10 of the leading non-profit organizations in hemostasis and thrombosis, providing expertise and insight on improving patient care.

American Society of Hematology (ASH), 2023

December 9 - 12, 2023

The premier global congress from the world's largest professional society serving both clinicians and scientists working in malignant and classical hematology.

Adynovate® [Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant), PEGylated] & Advate® [Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant)]

  • Clinical Outcomes of Noninhibitor Patients with Hemophilia A Switching from Prophylaxis with Factor VIII to Emicizumab: a Meta-analysis of Real-world Evidence Studies
  • Identifying Ideal Individuals for PK-guided Dosing: Recreational Risks and Elevated Breakthrough Bleeding

Vonvendi® [von Willebrand factor (recombinant)]

  • Real-world Use of Recombinant Von Willebrand Factor in People with Clinically Severe Congenital Von Willebrand Disease: Interim Analysis of ATHN 9, A Natural History Study for People with Severe VWD

American Thrombosis and Hemostasis Network Data Summit (ATHN Data Summit), 2023

October 19 - 20, 2023

Annual meeting discussing important research areas of hemophilia, health equity, thrombosis, Von Willebrand disease, rare blood disorders, and data management.

Adynovate® [Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant), PEGylated] & Advate® [Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant)]

  • Risk of Intracranial Hemorrhage in US Patients With Hemophilia A: Real-World Retrospective Cohort Study Using the ATHNdataset

Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy Nexus (AMCP Nexus), 2023

October 16 - 19, 2023

Annual event with more than 2,500 members and non-members of the AMCP to engage on the latest innovations and most intentional networking in managed care pharmacy.

Adynovate® [Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant), PEGylated] & Advate® [Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant)]

  • Cost Outcomes of Noninhibitor Patients With Hemophilia A Switching From Prophylaxis With Factor VIII to Emicizumab: a Meta-analysis of Real-world Evidence Studies in the United States

Medication Resources

Feiba®

[Anti-Inhibitor Coagulant Complex]

Rixubis®

[Coagulation Factor IX (Recombinant)]

Videos

 

Watch videos focused on Hemophilia.

GOAL-Hēm

Learn more about GOAL-Hēm, a hemophilia-specific patient-centered outcome measure and clinical engagement tool to aid in individualized goal setting.