Patent Description:
The present invention relates generally to the field of therapeutics for bleeding disorders.

Hemophilia is a hemorrhagic disease caused by a congenital deficiency or dysfunction of coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) or coagulation factor IX (FIX). The former is called hemophilia A and the latter is called hemophilia B. Genes for both factors are located on the X chromosome, and since genetic defects take the X-chromosome-linked recessive hereditary form, <NUM>% or more of the patients who develop the disease are men. It is known that the prevalence rate is approximately one in <NUM>,<NUM> live male births, and the ratio between hemophilia A and hemophilia B is approximately <NUM>:<NUM>.

The severity of hemophilia A is defined by the FVIII activity in blood. Patients with an activity of less than <NUM>% are classified as severe, patients with an activity of <NUM>% to <NUM>% are classified as moderate, and patients with an activity of more than <NUM>% and less than <NUM>% are classified as mild. Severe patients who account for approximately half of hemophilia A patients exhibit bleeding symptoms several times a month, and this frequency is markedly high as compared to those of moderate and mild patients.

For bleeding in hemophilia A patients, FVIII formulations are generally administered on demand (on-demand therapy). In recent years, FVIII formulations are also administered prophylactically to prevent bleeding events (regular replacement therapy; NPLs <NUM> and <NUM>). The half-life of FVIII formulations in blood is approximately <NUM> to <NUM> hours. Therefore, for continuous prevention, FVIII formulations are administered to patients three times a week (NPLs <NUM> and <NUM>). In on-demand therapy, FVIII formulations are also additionally administered at regular intervals as necessary to prevent reoccurrence of bleeding. In addition, FVIII formulations are mainly administered at home, but since they are administered intravenously, the difficulty of securing a blood vessel is a problem. Therefore, there has been a strong need for pharmaceutical agents with a lesser burden regarding their administration as compared to FVIII formulations.

Occasionally, antibodies against FVIII (inhibitors) develop in hemophilia A patients. Such inhibitors counteract the effects of the FVIII formulations. For bleeding in patients who have developed inhibitors (inhibitor patients), bypassing agents are administered. Their mechanisms of action are not dependent on FVIII function, that is, on the function of catalyzing the activation of blood coagulation factor X (FX) by activated blood coagulation factor IX (FIXa). Therefore, in some cases, bypassing agents cannot sufficiently stop the bleeding. Recently, results suggesting the effectiveness of regular administration therapy of bypassing agents have been obtained, but this has not yielded a sufficient effect to suppress bleeding as compared to FVIII formulations. Accordingly, there has been a strong need for therapeutic agents that can be administered subcutaneously, as well as long-acting therapeutic agents that can be administered less frequently, regardless of the presence of inhibitors.

Recently, as a means for solving the problem, an antibody that functionally substitutes for FVIII, emicizumab (ACE910, RO5534262) and its use were disclosed (PTLs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, NPLs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>).

Emicizumab is a recombinant humanized bispecific antibody that binds to (a) FIX and/or FIXa and (b) FX and/or activated blood coagulation factor FX (FXa), and mimics the cofactor function of FVIII. Japanese patients with severe hemophilia A (with or without factor VIII inhibitors) were enrolled in an open-label, non-randomized, inter-individual dose-escalation study of emicizumab. Enrolled patients were assigned to cohort <NUM>, cohort <NUM>, or cohort <NUM>, and received subcutaneous emicizumab at an initial dose of <NUM> per kilogram of body weight (cohort <NUM>) or <NUM> per kilogram (cohorts <NUM> and <NUM>) at week <NUM> (day <NUM>), followed by a once-weekly subcutaneous dose of <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM> per kilogram (cohorts <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, respectively) from week <NUM> through week <NUM>. The initial and subsequent doses for cohort <NUM> were the same. The once-weekly subcutaneous administration of Emicizumab decreased the annualized bleeding rates (ABR) in patients who had hemophilia A with or without factor VIII inhibitors as described in<NPL>" (NPL <NUM>). At the completion of the <NUM>-week study, eligible patients were able to participate in an extension study (NPL <NUM>).

An objective of the present invention is to provide another effective pharmaceutical composition or a dosage regimen for treating and/or reducing the incidence of a disease that develops and/or progresses due to a decrease or deficiency in the activity of FVIII and/or activated blood coagulation factor VIII (FVIIIa).

As a result of dedicated research, the present inventors succeeded in discovering an effective dosage regimen for a pharmaceutical composition containing a bispecific antigen-binding molecule (antibody) that recognizes (a) FIX and/or FIXa and (b) FX and/or FXa for treating and/or reducing the incidence of a disease that develops and/or progresses due to a decrease or deficiency in the activity of F VIII and/or FVIIIa.

Specifically, the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for use in a method of treating and/or reducing the incidence of a disease that develops and/or progresses due to a decrease or deficiency in the activity of blood coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) and/or activated blood coagulation factor VIII (FVIIIa), wherein the composition comprises a bispecific antibody that recognizes (a) blood coagulation factor IX and/or activated blood coagulation factor IX and (b) blood coagulation factor X and/or activated blood coagulation factor X and wherein the bispecific antibody is to be administered subcutaneously to a subject at a weekly loading dose of <NUM>/kg of the antibody for four weeks; and, after the loading dose administrations are complete, a maintenance dose of the antibody is to be administered subcutaneously to the subject, wherein the maintenance dose is <NUM>/kg of the antibody and is to be administered to the subject every four weeks in one single dose,.

A bispecific antigen-binding molecule that recognizes (a) blood coagulation factor IX (FIX) and/or activated blood coagulation factor IX (FIXa) and (b) blood coagulation factor X (FX) and/or activated blood coagulation factor X (FXa) preferably has an activity of functionally substituting for coagulation factor VIII (FVIII).

As referred to herein, the phrase "functionally substitute for FVIII" means that (a) FIX and/or FIXa, and (b) FX and/or FXa are recognized, and the activation of FX by FIXa is promoted (FXa generation by FIXa is promoted). FXa generation-promoting activity can be evaluated using, for example, a measurement system comprising FIXa, FX, the synthetic substrate S-<NUM> (a synthetic substrate of FXa), and phospholipids. Such a measurement system shows the correlation between the severity of the disease and the clinical symptoms in hemophilia A cases (<NPL>).

Such antigen-binding molecules (such as antibodies) recognizing (a) FIX and/or FIXa and (b) FX and/or FXa can be obtained according to methods described, for example, in <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT>. Specifically, based on the sequences of antibodies against FIX and/or FIXa and antibodies against FX and/or FXa, antibodies can be generated using genetic recombination techniques known to those skilled in the art. Polynucleotide(s) encoding an antibody can be constructed based on the sequences of the antibodies against FIX and/or FIXa and antibodies against FX and/or FXa, and this can be inserted into an expression vector and subsequently expressed in appropriate host cells (see for example, <NPL>; <NPL>;<NPL>;<NPL>; <NPL>; and<NPL>).

The phrases "functionally substitute for FVIII" and "functionally substitute for FVIIIa" referred to herein can be used interchangeably.

Such bispecific antigen-binding molecules can be isolated from inside host cells or from outside the cells (such as from the medium), and can be purified as substantially pure and homogeneous antibodies. Isolation and purification of antibodies can be carried out using methods generally used for isolating and purifying antibodies. For example, antibodies can be isolated and purified by appropriately selecting and combining column chromatography columns, filters, ultrafiltration, salting-out, solvent precipitation, solvent extraction, distillation, immunoprecipitation, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing, dialysis, recrystallization, and such.

Bispecific antigen-binding molecules referred to herein may include the antibodies described, for example, in <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT>.

A bispecific antigen-binding molecule comprises a first antigen-binding site and a second antigen-binding site which can specifically bind to at least two different types of antigens. A scaffold molecule is a molecule that exhibits a function by binding to a target molecule, and any polypeptide may be used as long as it is a conformationally stable polypeptide that can bind to at least one target antigen. Examples of such polypeptides include antibody variable regions, fibronectin (<CIT>), protein A domain (<CIT>), LDL receptor A domain (<CIT>, <CIT>), ankyrin (<CIT>), as well as the molecules described in <NPL>); and <NPL>)), <NPL>)), and <NPL>)). Furthermore, as described in <NPL> and<NPL>, peptide molecules that can bind to the target antigens can also be used.

Bispecific antigen-binding molecules can be produced using, for example, genetic recombination techniques (see, for example, <NPL>). Recombinant antibodies can be obtained by cloning DNAs encoding the antibodies from hybridomas or antibody-producing cells, such as sensitized lymphocytes that produce antibodies, inserting them into suitable vectors, and then introducing them into hosts (host cells) to produce the antibodies.

Furthermore, bispecific antigen-binding molecules may be whole antibodies, and may also be antibody fragments and low-molecular-weight antibodies, and modified antibodies.

For example, antibody fragments and low-molecular-weight antibodies include diabodies (Dbs), linear antibodies, and single chain antibody (hereinafter, also denoted as scFv) molecules. Herein, an "Fv" fragment is a smallest antibody fragment and comprises a full antigen recognition site and binding site.

Bispecific antibodies include human antibodies, mouse antibodies, rat antibodies, and such, and their origins are not limited. They may also be genetically modified antibodies, such as chimeric antibodies and humanized antibodies.

Methods for obtaining human antibodies are already known. For example, a human antibody of interest can be obtained by immunizing a transgenic animal carrying the entire repertoire of human antibody genes with an antigen of interest (see <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT>).

Genetically modified antibodies can also be produced using known methods. Specifically, for example, a chimeric antibody is an antibody that comprises H chain and L chain variable regions of an immunized animal antibody, and H chain and L chain constant regions of a human antibody. Chimeric antibodies can be obtained by linking DNAs encoding the variable regions of an antibody derived from an immunized animal with DNAs encoding the constant regions of a human antibody, inserting this into an expression vector, and then introducing this into host cells to produce the antibodies.

A humanized antibody is a modified antibody which is also often referred to as a reshaped human antibody. A humanized antibody is constructed by transferring the CDRs of an antibody derived from an immunized animal to the complementarity determining regions of a human antibody. General genetic recombination techniques for producing them are also known (see European Patent Application Publication No. <CIT>; <CIT>; <NPL>; <CIT>).

More specifically, the bispecific antigen-binding molecule of the present invention as defined in the appended claim is a bispecific antibody in which a first polypeptide and a third polypeptide are associated and a second polypeptide and a fourth polypeptide are associated. Emicizumab (ACE910, RO5534262) is described below:.

Pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention as defined in the appended claim which are used for therapeutic or preventive purposes can be prepared by mixing a therapeutic agent, if necessary, with suitable pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, vehicles, and such and made into a freeze-dry formulation or a solution formulation.

A "therapeutic agent" herein refers to the bispecific antigen-binding molecule of the present invention as defined in the appended claim.

Examples of suitable pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and vehicles include sterilized water, physiological saline, stabilizers, excipients, antioxidants (such as ascorbic acid), buffers (such as phosphate, citrate, histidine, and other organic acids), antiseptics, surfactants (such as PEG and Tween), chelating agents (such as EDTA), and binders. They may also contain other low-molecular-weight polypeptides, proteins such as serum albumin, gelatin, and immunoglobulins, amino acids such as glycine, glutamine, asparagine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, methionine, arginine, and lysine, sugars and carbohydrates such as polysaccharides and monosaccharides, and sugar alcohols such as mannitol and sorbitol. When preparing an aqueous solution for injection, for example, physiological saline and isotonic solutions containing glucose and other adjuvants such as D-sorbitol, D-mannose, D-mannitol, and sodium chloride may be used, and appropriate solubilizers such as alcohol (for example, ethanol), polyalcohols (such as propylene glycol and PEG), and nonionic surfactants (such as polysorbate <NUM>, polysorbate <NUM>, poloxamer <NUM>, and HCO-<NUM>) may be used in combination. By mixing hyaluronidase into the formulation, a larger fluid volume can be administered subcutaneously (<NPL>). Further, the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention may be preliminarily loaded in a syringe. Meanwhile, the solution formulation can be prepared according to the method described in <CIT>.

If necessary, the antigen-binding molecule of the present invention as defined in the appended claim can be encapsulated in microcapsules (e.g., those made of hydroxymethylcellulose, gelatin, and poly(methylmetacrylate)), or prepared as colloidal drug delivery systems (e.g., liposomes, albumin microspheres, microemulsion, nanoparticles, and nanocapsules) (see, for example, "<NPL>)). Methods for preparing the pharmaceutical agents as controlled-release pharmaceutical agents are also well known, and such methods may be applied to the antigen-binding molecule of the present invention as defined in the appended claim (<NPL>); <NPL>); <CIT>; European Patent Application Publication No. <CIT>; <NPL>); <CIT>).

A preferable liquid formulation is as follows.

The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention as defined in the appended claim is to be administered to a patient subcutaneously.

The term "<NUM> weeks" or "a month" as used herein are used interchangeably and the term "every <NUM> weeks", "<NUM>-weekly", "every month", or "monthly" as used herein are used interchangeably.

The term "every <NUM> weeks", "<NUM>-weekly", or "bi-weekly" as used herein are used interchangeably.

A "maintenance" dose herein refers to one or more doses of a therapeutic agent which is to be administered to the patient over a treatment period. Different maintenance doses and different administration intervals can be combined.

The maintenance dose according to the present invention is <NUM>/kg of the antibody. The maintenance dose of <NUM>/kg refers toa total of <NUM>/kg of the antibody which is to be administered during <NUM> weeks or every month in a single dose.

The maintenance dose is <NUM>/kg of the antibody and this is to be administered in a single dose and the administration interval is <NUM> weeks (every month).

A "loading" dose herein generally comprises an initial dose of a therapeutic agent which is to be administered to a patient, and is followed by one or more maintenance dose(s) thereof. The loading dose refers to the amount given at each individual administration and the administration can be carried out between zero time to <NUM> times, e.g., at least once, at least twice, at least three times, at least four times, and preferably four times. Usually, the loading doses are to be administered at spaced treatment intervals, such as between one week to <NUM> weeks apart and preferably approximately every week. The loading dose is preferably <NUM>/kg of the antibody. The loading doses were intended to achieve the steady-state therapeutic plasma concentration as early as possible.

As defined in the appended claim, the loading dose according to the present invention is <NUM>/kg and the administration interval is one week (every week) and the administration is to be repeated four times.

The number of times the maintenance dose is administered is not particularly limited, and the number is for example at least twice, at least three times, at least four times, at least five times, at least six times, at least seven times, at least eight times, at least nine times, at least ten times, at least <NUM> times, at least <NUM> times, at least <NUM> times, at least <NUM> times, at least <NUM> times, at least <NUM> times, at least <NUM> times, at least <NUM> times, at least <NUM> times, at least <NUM> times, at least <NUM> times, at least <NUM> times, at least <NUM> times, at least <NUM> times, or more.

"Administration interval" (an interval between individual administrations) indicates the interval between administration of the nth loading dose (n is an integer of <NUM> or greater) and administration of the (n+<NUM>)th loading dose, and the interval between administration of the nth maintenance dose (n is an integer of <NUM> or greater) and administration of the (n+<NUM>)th maintenance dose.

As defined in the appended claim, the antibody is to be administered as follows.

Regimen G : administration at the loading dose of <NUM>/kg of the antibody once every week for four weeks followed by administration at the maintenance dose of <NUM>/kg of the antibody once every four weeks (every month).

The regimens of the invention as defined in the appended claim can be applicable for patients who suffer from bleeding, or excessive bleeding. These regimens can be applicable in a use for preventing and/or treating bleeding in such patients, or for increasing blood clotting activity in such patients, or for reducing excessive bleeding in such patients. Here, "preventing" or "treating" bleeding refers to reducing the incidence of bleeding or reducing the likelihood of bleeding in a patient. In certain aspects, excessive bleeding in such patients is caused by a decrease or deficiency in the activity of FVIII and/or FVIIIa. In a certain aspects, patents who suffer from bleeding have hemophilia, which may be hemophilia A or severe hemophilia A.

Regimens of the invention as defined in the appended claim can be applicable for use in patients with hemophilia A and preferably patients with hemophilia A having FVIII inhibitors and/or patients with hemophilia A not having FVIII inhibitors.

Regimens of the invention as defined in the appended claim can be applicable for use in patients with severe hemophilia A.

Regimens of the invention as defined in the appended claim can be applicable for use in adult patients, and/or pediatric patients and/or such special population of patients likely to exhibit lower exposure.

The dosage regimen is determined, for example, by considering the effects and safety. Furthermore, the dosage regimen is determined by considering the convenience of the patient, within the range that does not impair the effectiveness and safety. For example, the dosage regimen for a hemophilia A patient can be determined by considering the effects of preventing bleeding in patients and clinically acceptable safety.

A disease accompanying bleeding or a disease caused by bleeding may include a disease that develops and/or progresses due to a decrease or deficiency in the activity of FVIII and/or FVIIIa.

A disease that develops and/or progresses due to a decrease or deficiency in the activity of FVIII and/or FVIIIa is, for example, hemophilia A, hemophilia A with emergence of an inhibitor against FVIII / FVIIIa, acquired hemophilia A, and von Willebrand disease, but the disease is not particularly limited thereto.

Regimens of the invention as defined in the appended claim can be applicable for use in preventing bleeding episodes and reducing the frequency of bleeding episodes in congenital FVIII-deficient patients with inhibitors.

Regimens of the invention as defined in the appended claim can be applicable for use in preventing bleeding episodes and reducing the frequency of bleeding episodes in congenital FVIII-deficient patients without inhibitors.

Regimens of the invention as defined in the appended claim can be applicable for use in preventing bleeding episodes and reducing the frequency of bleeding episodes in acquired FVIII-deficient patients with inhibitors.

Regimens of the invention as defined in the appended claim can be applicable for use in preventing bleeding episodes and reducing the frequency of bleeding episodes in acquired FVIII-deficient patients without inhibitors.

Regimens of the invention as defined in the appended claim can be applicable for use in preventing bleeding episodes and reducing the frequency of bleeding episodes in congenital von Willebrand factor-deficient patients.

Regimens of the invention as defined in the appended claim can be applicable for use in preventing bleeding episodes and reducing the frequency of bleeding episodes in acquired von Willebrand factor-deficient patients.

The term "inhibitor patient" as used herein refers to a patient with hemophilia A having FVIII inhibitors.

The term "non-inhibitor patient" as used herein refers to a patient with hemophilia A not having FVIII inhibitors.

Described is a product comprising at least (i) a container; (ii) a pharmaceutical composition in a container, which comprises a bispecific antigen-binding molecule that recognizes (a) FIX and/or FIXa and (b) FX and/or FXa; and (iii) a document instructing administration of the antigen-binding molecule according to any one of the dosing regimens described above. In addition, a label, syringe, syringe needle, pharmaceutically acceptable medium, alcohol-soaked cotton, adhesive bandage, and such may be packaged in the product. The container is, for example, a bottle, a glass bottle, or a syringe, and can be produced from various materials such as glass or plastic. Administration-supporting devices may be attached to the product. A pharmaceutical composition is stored in the container, and the mouth of the container is sealed with a rubber stopper or such. For example, a label indicating that the pharmaceutical composition is to be used for preventing or treating selected pathological conditions is attached to the container. The document of (iii) may include instructions that specify the loading dose, maintenance dose, administration frequency or intervals, according to the dosing regimens as described above.

Use in the treatment of hemophilia refers to, for example, stopping bleeding by the composition which is to be administered to a hemophilia patient who is actually showing bleeding symptoms (treatment of bleeding) and/or reducing the bleeding frequency by the composition which is to be administered to a patient who had shown bleeding to prevent manifestation of bleeding symptoms in advance (prevention of bleeding). Use in the treatment and prevention of bleeding may be understood as having the same meaning in certain cases and such use in the treatment and prevention of bleeding may be called prophylaxis therapy or regular administration therapy of a therapeutic agent (the bispecific antigen-binding molecules of the present invention as defined in the appended claim).

Use in the prevention of hemophilia refers to, for example, reducing the incidence of hemophilia or reducing the likelihood of hemophilia.

Herein, bleeding that is examined and counted as the number of bleeding events in a patient is, for example, bleeding that required hemostatic treatment by coagulation factor formulations. Coagulation factor formulations refer to, for example, FVIII formulations and bypassing agents (activated prothrombin complex formulations, recombinant FVIIa formulations, and such).

The number of bleedings per year (the Annualized Bleeding Rate (ABR)) is calculated as, for example: (number of bleeding events x <NUM>) / number of days of observation.

The present invention provides as defined in the appended claim a pharmaceutical composition comprising a bispecific antigen-binding molecule which recognizes (a) FIX and/or FIXa and (b) FX and/or FXa, as a more effective pharmaceutical composition for use in preventing and/or treating bleeding, a disease accompanying bleeding, or a disease caused by bleeding, the disease including those that develops and/or progresses due to a decrease or deficiency in the activity of FVIII and/or FVIIIa.

The present invention as defined in the appended claim is specifically illustrated below with reference to the Examples. Examples which do not fall under the subject-matter of the appended claim do not form part of the present invention and aid for reference purposes.

A population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) model of emicizumab was developed using the quantifiable plasma emicizumab concentration data from <NUM> healthy subjects (NPL <NUM>) and <NUM> patients with hemophilia A having or not having FVIII inhibitors (NPLs <NUM> and <NUM>). In addition, the exposure-response relationship on the bleeding-prophylactic efficacy of emicizumab was quantitatively characterized based on a repeated time-to-event (RTTE) modeling approach using the bleeding onset data from the same <NUM> patients (NPLs <NUM> and <NUM>).

A one-compartment model with first-order absorption and first-order elimination was employed as the structural PopPK model to describe the plasma emicizumab concentration-time profile. The parameter estimates of the PopPK model including covariate effects are listed in Table <NUM>.

CL/F: apparent total clearance, Va/F: apparent volume of distribution, t<NUM>/<NUM>,abs: first-order absorption half-life, ADA: influential anti-drug antibodies, BW: body weight, PAT: patient. a)estimated using NONMEM software version <NUM>. <NUM> (ICON Development Solutions, Ellicott City, MD, USA), b)standardized by a typical body weight of <NUM>, c)parameterized as log-transformed geometric mean ratio, d)parameterized as allometric exponent (assumed to work in a power manner), e)assumed to follow an exponential error model, f)assumed to follow a combined additive plus proportional error model, g)parameterized as standard deviation, h)parameterized as coefficient of variation.

RTTE modeling dealt with the bleeding events that occurred both before (i.e., for approximately <NUM> months) and after the start of emicizumab administration and required the on-demand use of coagulation factor products, regardless of the bleeding site. A time-varying hazard model as the structural RTTE model consisted of a constant baseline hazard (lambda) to account for the bleeding rate when treated with the on-demand therapy with coagulation factor products and an Emax model to account for the bleeding-prophylactic effect of emicizumab as a function of plasma emicizumab concentration. The model equation of the RTTE model is illustrated below, and the parameter estimates are listed in Table <NUM>. <MAT> h(t): hazard on bleeding onset at a time of t, Cp(t): population pharmacokinetic model-predicted plasma emicizumab concentration at a time of t, λ(lambda): baseline hazard on bleeding onset (annual bleeding rate), EC<NUM>: plasma emicizumab concentration to achieve a half of the maximum prophylactic effect on bleeding onset, EPLX: effect of the prophylactic therapy with coagulation factor products when ongoing.

The RTTE model-simulated relationship between annual bleeding rate (ABR) and plasma emicizumab concentration is shown in <FIG>. A plasma emicizumab concentration of <NUM> micro g/mL or more is expected to achieve a median ABR of zero indicating no bleeding onset for a year in <NUM>% or more of patients.

Further improvement in bleeding-prophylactic efficacy outcome is not expected at plasma emicizumab concentrations of <NUM> micro g/mL or more in terms of median ABR. However, due to the inter-individual variability in drug effect and baseline ABR, there would remain considerable proportions of patients with ABR of > <NUM> even at such plasma emicizumab concentrations. Therefore, it is likely that increasing plasma emicizumab concentration (emicizumab dose) results in further reduced ABR in patients with imperfect bleeding control. In addition, in case of a special population likely to exhibit lower exposure (e.g., pediatric patients), increasing emicizumab dose should make sense to provide increased plasma emicizumab concentration and accordingly further reduced ABR.

As doses to achieve the target exposure level of <NUM> micro g/mL, once-weekly loading dose of <NUM>/kg for the first <NUM> weeks followed by once-weekly maintenance dose of <NUM>/kg or once-every-two-week maintenance dose of <NUM>/kg were proposed. The repeated loading doses were intended to achieve the steady-state plasma concentration as early as possible. The PopPK model-simulated plasma emicizumab concentration-time profiles at the proposed dosing regimens are shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. The simulations indicated that more than half of patients should achieve the target exposure level of <NUM> micro g/mL at steady state (i.e., after <NUM> weeks onwards) at both dosing regimens.

Another proposed dosing regimen of once-weekly loading dose of <NUM>/kg for the first <NUM> weeks followed by once-<NUM>-weekly maintenance dose of <NUM>/kg was not predicted to achieve the target exposure level of <NUM> micro g/mL as a median steady-state trough level, while providing a higher peak level due to a larger peak-trough fluctuation (<FIG>). However, in terms of efficacy, the PopPK/RTTE model-simulated ABR distributions were predicted to be similar among the dosing regimens (<FIG>, <FIG>). This suggests that with a given dose per administration for maintenance dose which is higher than that for loading dose, extending the administration interval would result in a similar bleeding-prophylactic efficacy to other dosing regimens with a per-administration maintenance dose lower than or equal to the loading dose.

This multicenter, open-label study evaluated the safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetics of prophylactic emicizumab treatment or regular emicizumab administration therapy in patients previously treated with episodic or prophylactic bypassing agents. Episodic bypassing agent patients were randomized in a <NUM>:<NUM> fashion to receive emicizumab prophylaxis (Arm A) versus no prophylaxis (Arm B) and were stratified across Arms A and B according to the number of bleeds they had experienced over the last <NUM> weeks prior to study entry (less than [<] <NUM> or greater than or equal to [>=] <NUM> bleeds); Arm B patients had the opportunity to switch to emicizumab prophylaxis after <NUM> weeks on-study. Prophylactic bypassing agent patients switched to emicizumab prophylaxis (Arm C) from the start of the trial; enrollment was extended for <NUM> weeks after the last patient enrolled in Arms A or B or until approximately <NUM> patients enrolled in Arm C, whichever occurred first. Episodic or prophylactic bypassing agent patients who previously participated in a Non-Interventional Study (NIS) BH29768 but were unable to enroll in Arms A or B prior to their closure had the opportunity to enroll in Arm D until <NUM> weeks after the last patient enrolled in Arms A or B or until approximately <NUM> patients enrolled in Arm D, whichever occurred first. Like patients in Arms A and C, Arm D patients received emicizumab prophylaxis from the start of the trial. All patients continued to receive standard of care/background treatment with their usual episodic bypassing agent therapy to treat breakthrough bleeds, as needed.

Emicizumab was administered subcutaneously at a dose of <NUM>/kg/week for <NUM> weeks followed by <NUM>/kg/week up to the end of the study.

The primary endpoint was the reduction of frequency in bleeding for patients who received subcutaneously administered emicizumab at a dose of <NUM>/kg/week for <NUM> weeks followed by <NUM>/kg/week compared to patients without the drug. The number of bleeds was significantly reduced in patients with the drug as described in more detail below.

One hundred and nine participants were enrolled. All participants were male and had a median age of <NUM> years (range, <NUM> - <NUM>; Table <NUM>); the median age in Arm C was lower, which was consistent with higher prior use of prophylactic BPAs in this younger group. While most had severe hemophilia, <NUM>/<NUM> participants had mild or moderate disease. Approximately <NUM>% of participants in Arms A, B, and D received prior immune tolerance induction (ITI), while <NUM>% of participants in Arm C previously underwent ITI. The majority of participants (<NUM>%) had target joints, with <NUM>% having ><NUM> target j oint. Median (range) emicizumab treatment exposure was <NUM> weeks (<NUM> - <NUM>) overall. Median (range) duration of emicizumab treatment exposure were Arm A, <NUM> (<NUM> - <NUM>) weeks; Arm B, <NUM> (<NUM> - <NUM>) weeks; Arm C, <NUM> (<NUM> - <NUM>) weeks and Arm D, <NUM> (<NUM> - <NUM>) weeks.

There was a statistically significant and clinically meaningful <NUM>% reduction in bleed rates between Arms A (emicizumab prophylaxis) versus B (no prophylaxis); ABR (<NUM>% CI) <NUM> (<NUM>; <NUM>) versus <NUM> (<NUM>; <NUM>), p<<NUM> (<FIG> and Table <NUM>). Statistically significant and clinically meaningful reductions were also observed in all secondary bleed-related endpoints, including spontaneous, joint, and target joint bleeds, and all bleeds. Overall, <NUM>% (<NUM>/<NUM>) of participants randomized to emicizumab prophylaxis experienced zero bleeds (<FIG> and Table <NUM>).

The intra-participant comparison in those who had previously participated in the NIS showed that emicizumab prophylaxis significantly reduced bleed rate versus previous BPA prophylaxis (<NUM>%: RR <NUM>; p=<NUM> [Arm C]); individual participant data are shown in <FIG> and corresponding data for the intra-participant comparison versus prior episodic BPAs (Arm A) are shown in <FIG>. Intra-participant comparison for emicizumab prophylaxis versus prior episodic BPA treatment showed a significant reduction in the risk of treated bleeds (<NUM>%: RR <NUM>; p<<NUM> [Arm A]).

Emicizumab prophylaxis was associated with statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and health status compared with no prophylaxis. Differences in adjusted means observed in study and clinically important differences determined from published literature (<NPL>. ), respectively, were as follows: Haem-A-QoL physical health subscale, <NUM> (p=<NUM>) and <NUM> points; Haem-A-QoL total score, <NUM> (p=<NUM>) and <NUM> points; EQ-5D-<NUM> VAS, -<NUM> (p=<NUM>) and <NUM> points; and, EQ-5D-<NUM> Index utility score, - <NUM> (p=<NUM>) and <NUM> points.

Mean trough emicizumab concentrations of ><NUM> micro g/mL in blood were achieved after <NUM> weeks with administrations of the loading dose of <NUM>/kg/week, and sustained over the course of the study with administrations of the maintenance dose of <NUM>/kg/week (<FIG>). D-dimer and prothrombin fragment <NUM> were not affected by emicizumab treatment.

The study enrolled PwHAwI aged < <NUM> years (or <NUM>-<NUM> years if < <NUM>) previously treated with bypassing agents (BPAs) to receive emicizumab prophylaxis for <NUM> or more weeks. Efficacy objectives included annualized bleeding rate (ABR) and bleed reduction versus historical bleed rate (non-interventional study).

Participants received weekly subcutaneous (SC) administrations of emicizumab for a designated period of <NUM> weeks. All participants continued to receive standard of care/background treatment with their usual episodic bypassing agent therapy to treat breakthrough bleeds as needed.

Emicizumab was administered SC once weekly for <NUM> weeks, <NUM> milligrams per kilogram per week (mg/kg/week) for <NUM> weeks and <NUM>/kg/week thereafter. The regimen was to be adapted based upon efficacy/bleed control.

Interim analysis included <NUM> PwHAwI aged <NUM>-<NUM> years (median <NUM>); <NUM> aged < <NUM> years were included in the efficacy analyses (Table <NUM>). The median observation time was <NUM> weeks (range <NUM>-<NUM>). In total, <NUM>/<NUM> (<NUM>%) PwHAwI had zero treated bleeds and <NUM>/<NUM> (<NUM>%) did not bleed while on study. Overall, <NUM> bleeds were reported in <NUM> PwHAwI; with none occurring in a joint or muscle. A substantial reduction in ABR on study versus ABR from the NIS was observed in <NUM> PwHAwI included in the intra-participant comparison (<FIG>); <NUM>/<NUM> had <NUM>% reduction in number of treated bleeds, <NUM>/<NUM> had <NUM>% reduction in number of all bleeds, and all PwHAwI had ><NUM>% reduction of all bleeds. Mean trough emicizumab concentrations of ><NUM> micro g/mL were achieved after <NUM> weeks and sustained.

Emicizumab Px (prophylaxis) was safe and prevented/reduced bleeds in pediatric PwHAwI, showing clinically meaningful reductions in ABR compared with historical ABR. PK was similar to that seen in adult PwHA (persons with hemophilia A). These interim data show the potential for emicizumab to reduce the treatment and disease burden for pediatric PwHAwI.

This is a randomized, multicenter, open-label, Phase <NUM> clinical study in participants aged <NUM> years or older to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of prophylactic emicizumab versus no prophylaxis in participants with severe hemophilia A without inhibitors against FVIII (HAVEN <NUM>).

Participants received emicizumab prophylaxis at the specified dose subcutaneously until the end of the study (maximum up to <NUM> years).

Participants who received FVIII prophylaxis prior to study entry received emicizumab prophylaxis at a dose of <NUM>/kg/week subcutaneously for <NUM> weeks, followed by <NUM> milligram per kilogram per week (mg/kg/week) emicizumab subcutaneously until the end of study (maximum up to <NUM> years).

Participants who received episodic treatment with FVIII prior to study entry received emicizumab prophylaxis at a dose of <NUM>/kg/week subcutaneously for <NUM> weeks, followed by <NUM>/kg/week emicizumab subcutaneously until the end of study (maximum up to <NUM> years).

Participants who received episodic treatment with FVIII prior to study entry received emicizumab prophylaxis at a dose of <NUM>/kg/week subcutaneously for <NUM> weeks, followed by <NUM>/kg once every <NUM> weeks (<NUM>/kg/<NUM> weeks) emicizumab subcutaneously until the end of study (maximum up to <NUM> years).

Participants who received episodic treatment with FVIII prior to study entry were randomized to continue episodic FVIII treatment when they started the trial; they had the opportunity to switch to emicizumab prophylaxis after <NUM> weeks on-study.

This multicenter, open-label, non-randomized study has assessed the efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of emicizumab administered at a dose of <NUM> milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) once every <NUM> weeks (Q4W) in participants with hemophilia A with or without inhibitors against factor VIII (FVIII). The study consisted of <NUM> parts: a pharmacokinetic (PK) run-in part followed by an expansion part.

Emicizumab was administered according to the dose and schedule described in respective arms.

Participants received emicizumab at a loading dose of <NUM>/kg once every week subcutaneously for initial <NUM> weeks followed by a maintenance dose of <NUM>/kg once every <NUM> weeks subcutaneously for a minimum of <NUM> weeks.

Participants received emicizumab at a dose of <NUM>/kg once every <NUM> weeks subcutaneously for a minimum of <NUM> weeks.

At the data cutoff of April <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> patients with severe hemophilia A had enrolled into the PK run-in cohort, <NUM> patients without inhibitors and <NUM> patients with inhibitors, of which <NUM> patients were aged <NUM> and over, and followed for a minimum of <NUM> weeks. Individual observed PK profiles were within the <NUM>% prediction interval computed from a population PK model based on clinical data from a <NUM>/kg QW regimen (<FIG>: gray bold solid lines indicate the upper and lower limits of the <NUM>% prediction interval). Emicizumab PK parameters derived after a single SC administration of <NUM>/kg emicizumab (Table <NUM>) were consistent with the values observed in previous studies with emicizumab (<NPL>). During the observation period (median, <NUM> weeks), <NUM> adverse events (AEs) were reported in <NUM> patients at the time of data cut-off, including <NUM> Grade <NUM> serious AE (worsening of hypertension); no AEs were considered related to the study drug. No anti-drug antibodies were detected. Also, <NUM> out of <NUM> patients had no bleeds while receiving Q4W emicizumab; <NUM> patient experienced <NUM> spontaneous nose bleeds on Study Days <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, which did not require treatment.

Preliminary data from the HAVEN <NUM> study showed that Q4W dosing of emicizumab at <NUM>/kg per administration exhibited a PK behavior that was consistent with prior predictions, leading to an expected steady-state concentration average similar to the clinically confirmed dosing regimen (i.e., <NUM>/kg/QW). The safety and efficacy results from this PK run-in cohort enabled the opening of the HAVEN <NUM> expansion cohort, and provided promising support for a Q4W emicizumab prophylaxis regimen for the management of hemophilia A. The HAVEN <NUM> study is fully enrolled (N=<NUM>, including the PK run-in cohort patients).

The study protocol of HAVEN <NUM> (see Example <NUM>) has been amended to evaluate additional two emicizumab dosing schedules (once every <NUM> weeks [Q2W] and once every <NUM> weeks [Q4W]) as well as the originally planned dosing schedule (once weekly [QW]).

Overall, this non-randomized, multicenter, open-label, Phase III clinical study enrolls children with hemophilia A who have inhibitors against FVIII. Children with hemophilia A and documented historical FVIII inhibitor titer (<NUM> BU or more) must currently be receiving treatment with bypassing agents. The study enrolls at least <NUM> patients younger than <NUM> years of age and up to approximately <NUM> patients, with allowance of patients of <NUM> to <NUM> years of age who weigh less than <NUM> at the time of informed consent.

Patients enrolled in Cohort A receive emicizumab administration, with a loading dose of <NUM>/kg per administration once weekly (QW) for the first <NUM> weeks and a maintenance dose of <NUM>/kg per administration QW thereafter for a minimum of <NUM> weeks in total. Patients enrolled in Cohorts B and C receive emicizumab administration, with the same loading dose of <NUM>/kg QW for the first <NUM> weeks and a maintenance dose of <NUM>/kg Q2W (Cohort B) or <NUM>/kg Q4W (Cohort C) thereafter for a minimum of <NUM> weeks in total. During the <NUM>-week treatment period, individual patients may have their dose up-titrated if they experience suboptimal bleeding control with emicizumab.

The efficacy analyses evaluate the clinical effect of prophylactic emicizumab on the number of bleeds over time (i.e., bleed rate), and characterize the efficacy of up-titration on an intra-patient level. Bleeds having different bleed definitions such as treated bleeds, all bleeds, treated spontaneous bleeds, treated joint bleeds, and treated target joint bleeds are analyzed separately. The primary analysis is performed <NUM> weeks after the last patient in the primary cohort, which consists of all patients enrolled in Cohort A prior to the close of enrollment for patients <NUM> years of age or older, has been enrolled or withdrawn prematurely, whichever occurs first. No formal hypothesis testing is planned in the study.

Results from an interim analysis in Cohort A are presented in Example <NUM>.

This study is a multicenter, open-label, non-randomized study designed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of emicizumab administered subcutaneously at a dose of <NUM>/kg per administration once every <NUM> weeks (Q2W cohort) or <NUM>/kg per administration once every <NUM> weeks (Q4W cohort) in pediatric patients with hemophilia A without inhibitors. The study enrolls a minimum of <NUM> patients less than <NUM> years old with hemophilia A without inhibitors in each cohort.

The Q2W cohort of the study receives a loading dose of <NUM>/kg of emicizumab administered subcutaneously once weekly (QW) for the first <NUM> doses, followed by a maintenance dose of <NUM>/kg administered subcutaneously once every <NUM> weeks (Q2W) for at least <NUM> weeks in total. The Q4W cohort receives a loading dose of <NUM>/kg of emicizumab administered subcutaneously once weekly (QW) for the first <NUM> doses, followed by a maintenance dose of <NUM>/kg administered subcutaneously once every <NUM> weeks (Q4W) for at least <NUM> weeks in total. After Week <NUM> of emicizumab treatment, a higher dose may be selected for patients who meet the insufficient bleeding control criteria.

Claim 1:
A pharmaceutical composition for use in a method of treating and/or reducing the incidence of a disease that develops and/or progresses due to a decrease or deficiency in the activity of blood coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) and/or activated blood coagulation factor VIII (FVIIIa), wherein the composition comprises a bispecific antibody that recognizes (a) blood coagulation factor IX and/or activated blood coagulation factor IX and (b) blood coagulation factor X and/or activated blood coagulation factor X and wherein the bispecific antibody is to be administered subcutaneously to a subject at a weekly loading dose of <NUM>/kg of the antibody for four weeks; and, after the loading dose administrations are complete, a maintenance dose of the antibody is to be administered subcutaneously to the subject, wherein the maintenance dose is <NUM>/kg of the antibody and is to be administered to the subject every four weeks in one single dose,
wherein the disease is hemophilia A, acquired hemophilia A, von Willebrand disease, or hemophilia A with emergence of an inhibitor against FVIII and/or FVIIIa, and
wherein the bispecific antibody is a bispecific antibody comprising a first polypeptide which is an H chain containing the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: <NUM>; a second polypeptide which is an H chain containing the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: <NUM>; and a third and fourth polypeptide which are a commonly shared L chain containing the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: <NUM>.