Hemophilia A Treatment Gets Green Light

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new treatment for hemophilia A.

That treatment is Kovaltry. It works to replace a protein that is missing in the blood of patients with hemophilia A, a bleeding disorder marked by sudden or prolonged bleeding, often into the joints, internal organs and muscles.

Kovaltry, which is marketed by Bayer, is approved for children and adults as a preventive measure against bleeding episodes. It can be infused into the blood around two or three times per week.

Around 16,000 people in the US have hemophilia A, according to Bayer.

Kovaltry has already been approved in Canada and Europe. It was approved in the US based on the results of several clinical trials, which found that patients treated with the drug had fewer bleeding episodes.

Commonly reported adverse reactions included itchy rash, headache and fever. Allergic reactions have also been tied to Kovaltry.