Luspatercept represents the first and only erythroid maturation agent (EMA) approved by the European Commission (EC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) capable of enhancing advanced erythrocyte maturation. The efficacy of luspatercept was demonstrated in the phase III clinical trial called "BELIEVE." More than 200 Italian patients with transfusion- dependent beta thalassemia aged ≥18 years who had no approved therapeutic alternatives to improve their clinical course were considered eligible for the 'compassionate' use program related to luspatercept and most of them received at least one dose of the drug before it was dispensed by the National Health System (NHS), after approval by the pharmaceutical company and the Ethics Committee of the Clinical Center in which they were being followed.
One month after the publication in the Official Gazette of the Italian Republic of the AIFA determination of price and reimbursement for the treatment indication covered by the program, those who were still on treatment and were, in clinical judgment, eligible to continue it, continued to receive the drug through dispensation by the NHS. Because access to the compassionate phase was less restrictive than access to that in formal clinical trials and the patients included particularly representative of real life, collecting data on clinical characteristics at baseline, safety, and efficacy is critical to enriching the information available on this new therapy. Continuing to collect efficacy, safety, and tolerability information beyond the compassionate phase is also essential for a more complete and accurate assessment, given the short duration of 'compassionate' treatment for a portion of the patients under study.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
140
Luspatercept (ACE-536)
University of Cagliari, Ospedale Pediatrico Microcitemico, via Jenner sn, 09121 Cagliari -
Cagliari, CA, Italy
To evaluate safety of luspatercept, number of participants with treatment-related adverse events as assessed by CTCAE v4.0
To evaluate safety of luspatercept in subjects with transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia who received at least one dose of the drug in the compassionate use phase including the post- marketing authorisation phase in those who continued to receive it.
Time frame: 12-week interval period of luspatercept treatment.
To evaluate tolerability of luspatercept, number of participants with treatment-related adverse events as assessed by CTCAE v4.0"
To evaluate tolerability of luspatercept in subjects with transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia who received at least one dose of the drug in the compassionate use phase including the post- marketing authorisation phase in those who continued to receive it.
Time frame: 12-week interval period of luspatercept treatment.
To evaluate efficacy of luspatercept, Number of subjects who showed a ≥ 33% reduction from baseline in the number of transfused blood units during any 12-week interval period of luspatercept treatment
To evaluate efficacy of luspatercept in subjects with transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia who received at least one dose of the drug in the compassionate use phase including the post- marketing authorisation phase in those who continued to receive it.
Time frame: 12-week interval period of luspatercept treatment.
subjects with comorbidities, number of participants with treatment-related adverse events as assessed by CTCAE v4.0"
To evaluate safety of luspatercept in subjects with comorbidities that were exclusion criteria in formal clinical trials
Time frame: 12-week interval period of luspatercept treatment.
subjects with comorbidities, number of participants with treatment-related adverse events as assessed by CTCAE v4.0"
To evaluate tolerability of luspatercept in subjects with comorbidities that were exclusion criteria in formal clinical trials
Time frame: 12-week interval period of luspatercept treatment.
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