ALBERT

Description: Background. Patients with pre-existent chronic morbidities are likely to be more severely affected by SARS-Cov2 infection. In Italy, the "Società Italiana Talassemie ed Emoglobinopatie" (SITE) has recently estimated the number of patients (Pts) with Hemoglobinopathies followed by Italian Specialized Centers (SITE Network). Five thousand Transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia (TDT), 1900 Non-Transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia (NTDT) and 2000 Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) were registered [1]. To verify the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on Pts with Hemoglobinopathies, we performed a specific survey by electronic Case Report Form (eCRF). Inclusion criteria included positive swab or serology in a patient with hemoglobinopathy and at least 15 days of follow-up from either the onset of symptoms or SARS-CoV2 positivity. The survey was approved by the Ethics Committee, and eCRF was shared with the Centers of Italian Hemoglobinopathies Network. Preliminary data updated to April 10, 2020, were published [2]. Results. As of July 31, 2020, 27 cases have been reported: 18 TDT, 4 NTDT, 5 SCD. 89% of the cases were in Northern Italy, where the rate of infection was much higher than the rest of the country, reflecting the national epidemiology. The mean age of thalassemia patients (TDT and NTDT) was 43±11 years, and 55% were male; the mean age of SCD patients was 33±15 years, and 40% was male. The likely source of infection has been detected in 63% (17/27) of cases: 11 had occupational exposure, 6 had a positive relative. Five patients were asymptomatic: for them, the SARS-CoV-2 infection was identified by positive swab for 1 patient and by positive level of IgG for 4. Twenty patients had associated comorbidities, 14 were splenectomized, and 3 had functional asplenia. Eleven patients were hospitalized, only one in high-intensity care unit. Three patients required more intensive ventilation support with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), one of these has a history of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated with chemotherapy in the previous year. Three other patients required support by oxygen. No Pts required intubation. Two Pts increased blood requirement. Only five received supposedly specific treatment for COVID-19: two hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), one HCQ plus ritonavir/darunavir, and one HCQ plus anakinra, one HCQ plus Tocilizumab plus Lopinavir/Ritonavir. The clinical course of hospitalized patients was 18±7 days. All patients recovered. Conclusions. The prevalence of COVID-19 infection in Italian patients with Hemoglobinopathies result 0,3% while in general population the prevalence in Italy is 0,4% [3]. Considering that the thalassemia population is more strictly observed, we could postulate that the precautions suggested or self-applied by the Pts were effective. No death nor severe SARS with intubation, nor signs of cytokines storm, only one thromboembolic event was observed although most individuals had pre-existing complications. A single case with pulmonary hypertension has been described in detail [4]. In most individuals the infection has been pauci or asymptomatic and all recovered. This experience differs from what has been observed in Iran on a similar series with different severity and mortality and ask for a more in-depth comparison [5]. In conclusion, our data do not indicate increased severity of COVID-19 in Pts with Hemoglobinopathies followed in Specialized Centers. Acknowledgment. We would like to thank ALT (Associazione per la Lotta alla Talassemia R.Vullo - Ferrara).. References 1. http://www.site-italia.org/2020/covid-19.php. SITE communication. Accessed April 1, 2020 2. Motta I, Migone De Amicis M, Pinto VM, et al. SARS-CoV-2 infection in beta thalassemia: Preliminary data from the Italian experience. Am J Hematol. 2020;95(8): E198-E199. 3. https://www.epicentro.iss.it/coronavirus/sars-cov-2-dashboard, Accessed July 31, 2020 4. Pinto VM, Derchi GE, Bacigalupo L, Pontali E, Forni GL. COVID-19 in a Patient with β-Thalassemia Major and Severe Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. Hemoglobin. 2020;44(3):218-220. 5. Karimi M, Haghpanah S, Azarkeivan A, et al. Prevalence and mortality in β-thalassaemias due to outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19): the nationwide Iranian experience. Br J Haematol. 2020;190(3):e137-e140. Disclosures Motta: Sanofi Genzyme: Honoraria. Cappellini:BMS: Honoraria; Genzyme/Sanofi: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; CRISPR Therapeutics, Novartis, Vifor Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Piga:BMS: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding. Forni:Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Description: In the last decade many studies unraveled the bone marrow (BM) niche regulation and crosstalk with hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) in steady state conditions and malignancies, but HSC-niche interactions are still underexplored in hematological inherited disorders. We have recently provided the first demonstration of impaired HSC function caused by an altered BM niche in a non-malignant disease, beta-thalassemia (BT) (Aprile et al., Blood 2020). BT is a congenital hemoglobin disorder resulting in severe anemia, ineffective erythropoiesis and multi-organ secondary complications, such as bone defects. It is one of the most globally widespread monogenic diseases, which can be cured by transplantation of HSC from compatible healthy donors or autologous HSC from patients upon gene therapy. Cases of graft failure have been reported, but causes have not been deeply investigated and might include an impaired HSC function and a defective supporting activity of the BM niche, worsened by age and disease progression. We showed that the prolonged residence of HSC into an altered BM stromal niche in BT Hbbth3/+ (th3) mice negatively affects stem cell number, quiescence and self-renewal. Moreover, we demonstrated that correction of HSC-stromal niche crosstalk rescues BT HSC function by in vivo reactivation of parathyroid hormone (PTH) signaling. Consistently with the common finding of osteoporosis in BT patients, we found reduced bone deposition and low levels of PTH also in the murine model. We investigated the potential mechanisms underlying the decreased PTH and bone defect and we focused on the role of fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23). FGF-23 is a systemic hormone mainly secreted by osteocytes, which acts as negative regulator of bone metabolism by inhibiting bone mineralization and PTH production by parathyroid glands. Since FGF-23 is positively modulated by the anemia-related factor erythropoietin (EPO), we hypothesized that the high EPO levels in BT, subsequent to ineffective erythropoiesis, might contribute to increase FGF-23. We measured high levels of circulating FGF-23 in th3 mice (wt vs. th3: 399.7±69.77 vs. 1975±209.3 pg/ml, p

Description: Introduction: Patients (pts) with transfusion-dependent (TD) β-thalassemia may require long-term red blood cell transfusions (RBCT) that can lead to iron overload and associated complications, which impact negatively on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Administration of RBCT provides transient relief from anemia-related symptoms associated with β-thalassemia; reduction of RBCT may increase anemia-related symptoms and thereby worsen HRQoL. The phase 3 BELIEVE study (NCT02604433) showed that the first-in-class erythroid maturation agent luspatercept provided clinically meaningful reduction in RBCT burden, but the impact of luspatercept on HRQoL is not well understood. This analysis assessed the effect of luspatercept plus best supportive care (BSC, including RBCT, iron chelation therapy) vs placebo (PBO) plus BSC on HRQoL in pts with TD β-thalassemia. Methods: Pts received luspatercept (starting dose 1.0 mg/kg with titration up to 1.25 mg/kg every 3 weeks) or PBO, subcutaneously for ≥ 48 weeks plus BSC. HRQoL was assessed using the generic 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the thalassemia-specific Transfusion-dependent Quality of Life questionnaire (TranQol), at screening (≤ 4 weeks prior to first study dose) and every 12 weeks up to 48 weeks of treatment. The HRQoL evaluable population included all pts who completed the HRQoL assessment at screening and ≥ 1 post-screening assessment visit. The TranQol and SF-36 were considered complete if ≥ 75% and ≥ 50% of items, respectively, were answered at a given time point. The primary analysis assessed changes from baseline between groups up to Week 48. The primary domains of interest were: TranQol total score and Physical Health (PH); and the SF-36 Physical Component Summary (PCS), Physical Functioning (PF), and General Health (GH). Other domains were considered exploratory domains. Changes from baseline were compared using ANCOVA models adjusting for baseline domain scores and geographic region. In exploratory analyses, the proportion of pts achieving a clinically meaningful improvement in domain scores were compared between pts on luspatercept achieving a clinical response (≥ 50% reduction in RBCT burden over 12 weeks; ≥ 33% reduction in RBCT burden over 12 weeks; transfusion independence [TI] any 8 weeks; or TI any 12 weeks), and PBO. Results: 336 pts were randomized to treatment; 224 to luspatercept and 112 to PBO. The HRQoL evaluable population was 212 (94.6%) in the luspatercept arm and 104 (92.9%) in the PBO arm. HRQoL questionnaire compliance rates among pts still on treatment were 〉 87.5% for both questionnaires at Week 48. Baseline HRQoL scores were similar to the US general population for most SF-36 domains, although GH, Role-Emotional, and Role-Physical domain scores were impaired in the BELIEVE population. Mean scores on all primary and exploratory domains were stable over time in both treatment groups and did not differ between treatment groups at Week 24 and 48. When considering responders to luspatercept, pts receiving luspatercept and achieving a ≥ 50% reduction in RBCT burden over 12 weeks were significantly more likely than pts receiving PBO to have a clinically meaningful improvement in PCS (31.1% vs 16.5%; P = 0.024), and PF (30.0% vs 13.2%; P = 0.007) at Week 48 (Table). Statistically significant differences between luspatercept and PBO were also seen among pts achieving TI for any 8 or any 12 weeks for some SF-36 domains, but no statistical difference was seen in pts achieving a ≥ 33% reduction in RBCT burden for either SF-36 or TranQol domains although the proportion of pts with improved scores was higher with luspatercept, especially at Week 48. Conclusions: Overall, the addition of luspatercept to BSC reduced transfusion burden while sustaining TranQol and SF-36 HRQoL scores over time through Week 48 compared with those receiving PBO. Pts with TD β-thalassemia responding to luspatercept were more likely to achieve clinically meaningful improvements in HRQoL compared with PBO. Disclosures Cappellini: Genzyme/Sanofi: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; CRISPR Therapeutics, Novartis, Vifor Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Honoraria. Taher:Silence Therapeutics: Consultancy; Vifor Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; Ionis Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Research Funding. Piga:BMS: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding. Shah:Novartis, BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Bluebird Bio: Consultancy, Honoraria; IQVIA: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Voskaridou:ADDMEDICA Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; ACCELERON Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; PROTAGONIST Company: Research Funding; GENESIS Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; NOVARTIS Company: Research Funding. Viprakasit:Agios Pharmaceuticals, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, La Jolla Pharmaceuticals, Protagonist Therapeutics, Vifor Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; BMS, Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Porter:Silence Therapeutics: Honoraria; La Jolla Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria; Vifor Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria; Protagonist Therapeutics: Honoraria; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria; Agios Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria; bluebird bio, Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria. Hermine:AB Science: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Honoraria, Patents & Royalties, Research Funding; BMS, Alexion, Novartis, Inatherys: Research Funding. Neufeld:Takeda: Consultancy; Octapharma: Consultancy; Novo Nordsik: Consultancy; genetech: Consultancy; Bayer: Other: DSMB; Imara Pharma: Other: DSMB service; ApoPharma/Chiezi: Other: DSMB service; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Consultancy; Acceleron Pharma: Consultancy, Other: DSMB. Thompson:BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; Baxalta: Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; CRISPR/Vertex: Research Funding; bluebird bio, Inc.: Consultancy, Research Funding; Biomarin: Research Funding. Tang:BMS: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Yu:Evidera: Current Employment. Guo:BMS: Consultancy. Shetty:BMS: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Miteva:BMS: Current Employment. Zinger:Celgene, a Bristol Myers Squibb company: Current Employment. Backstrom:Acceleron Pharma: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; BMS: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Oliva:Abbvie: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Patents & Royalties, Speakers Bureau; Alexion: Consultancy; Apellis: Consultancy.

Description: Background: BCL11A is a key transcription factor that suppresses the production of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) in red blood cells (RBCs), leading to the production of adult Hb (HbA). In diseases with hemoglobin production defects such as b-thalassemia, or in sickle cell disease (SCD), HbF upregulation could ameliorate anemia and reduce transfusion requirements, such as in β-thalassemia, or reduce clinical complications, including vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs), in SCD. To induce potentially curative levels of HbF in erythrocytes, we used the ex vivo CRISPR-Cas9-based gene-editing platform to edit the erythroid enhancer region of BCL11A in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), producing CTX001. Aims: CLIMB THAL-111 (NCT03655678) and CLIMB SCD-121 (NCT03745287) are multi-center, first-in-human studies of CTX001 for transfusion-dependent b-thalassemia (TDT) and SCD, respectively. Here, we present available safety and efficacy results from all patients with at least 3 months of follow-up from both studies as of July 2020. Methods: Patients (aged 18 to 35 years) with TDT receiving packed red blood cell (pRBC) transfusions of ≥100 mL/kg/year or ≥10 units/year in the previous 2 years, and those with severe SCD, defined as ≥2 VOCs/year requiring medical care in the previous 2 years, were eligible. Peripheral CD34+ HSPCs were collected by apheresis after mobilization with G-CSF (filgrastim) and plerixafor (for TDT) or plerixafor alone (SCD). The erythroid enhancer region of BCL11A was edited in CD34+ cells using a specific CRISPR guide RNA and Cas9 nuclease. Prior to CTX001 infusion on Day +1, patients received myeloablation with 4 days of busulfan. Patients were monitored for stem cell engraftment and hematopoietic recovery, adverse events, total Hb and HbF production, hemolysis, F-cells, pRBC transfusion requirements (TDT), and VOCs (SCD) during follow-up. Results: Data are presented for patients with TDT (N=5; RBC transfusion history range: 23.5 to 61 units/year; CTX001 post-infusion follow-up through Months 15, 6, 4, 4, and 3, respectively) and with SCD (N=2; 7 VOCs/year and 7.5 VOCs/year, respectively, annualized over 2 years prior to consent; CTX001 post-infusion follow-up through Months 12 and 3, respectively). In the patients with TDT, median neutrophil engraftment occurred on Day +32 (range: +27 to +36); median platelet engraftment occurred on Day +37 (range: +34 to +52). In the patients with SCD, neutrophil engraftment occurred on Day +30 and Day +22 and platelet engraftment occurred on Day +30 and Day +33, respectively. All patients demonstrated increases in total Hb and HbF over time (Figure). Patients with TDT ceased receiving pRBC transfusions soon after CTX001 infusion, with the last pRBC transfusion occurring between 0.9 and 1.9 months after CTX001 infusion. The first patient with TDT who received CTX001 has remained transfusion-free for over 15 months. Patients with SCD have had no VOCs since CTX001 infusion. The first SCD patient who received CTX001 has remained free of VOCs for over 1 year. In all 7 patients, the safety profile after CTX001 infusion was generally consistent with busulfan myeloablation. Four serious adverse events (SAEs) related or possibly related to CTX001 were reported in 1 patient with TDT: headache, haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), acute respiratory distress syndrome, and idiopathic pneumonia syndrome. All 4 of these SAEs occurred in the context of HLH and were either resolved or clinically improving at the time of this analysis. No other CTX001-related SAEs were reported in the other patients with TDT or in any patients with SCD. Conclusions: These data demonstrate that CTX001, a first-in-human, CRISPR-Cas9-modified autologous HSPC product, has resulted in increases in HbF and total Hb in the first 7 patients infused. All patients infused with CTX001 demonstrated hematopoietic engraftment with a post-infusion safety profile generally consistent with myeloablation. All 5 patients with TDT have been transfusion-free since ~2 months after CTX001 infusion and the 2 patients with severe SCD have had no VOCs during follow-up after CTX001 infusion. These early data demonstrate that CTX001 is a potential functional cure for the treatment of TDT and SCD. Data will be updated for the presentation. Data from these ongoing studies were submitted on behalf of the CLIMB THAL-111 and CLIMB SCD-121 Investigators. Figure Disclosures Frangoul: Vertex Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Bobruff:CRISPR Therapeutics: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Cappellini:BMS: Honoraria; CRISPR Therapeutics, Novartis, Vifor Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Genzyme/Sanofi: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Fernandez:CRISPR Therapeutics: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Grupp:Juno/BMS: Other; Cellectis: Other; TCR2: Other: SAB; Servier: Research Funding; Janssen/JnJ: Consultancy; CBMG: Consultancy; Humanigen: Consultancy; GlaxoSmithKline: Consultancy; Roche: Consultancy; CRISPR Therapeutics/Vertex Pharmaceuticals: Other; Allogene: Other; Kite/Gilead: Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Other: SSC, Research Funding; Adaptimmune: Other: SAB; Jazz: Other: SSC. Handgretinger:Amgen: Honoraria. Ho:CRISPR Therapeutics: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Imren:Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Kattamis:Agios: Consultancy; Vertex: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Ionis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Genesis Pharma SA: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Vifor: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celgene/BMS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Apopharma/Chiesi: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Lekstrom-Himes:Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Locatelli:Medac: Speakers Bureau; Miltenyi: Speakers Bureau; Bellicum Pharmaceutical: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Jazz Pharmaceeutical: Speakers Bureau. Lu:Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. de Montalembert:Bluebird bio: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Vertex: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Addmedica: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Mulcahey:Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Shanbhag:Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Sheth:Agios: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene/BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; La Jolla: Research Funding; Acceleron: Consultancy; Bluebird Bio: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; DisperSol Technologies: Research Funding; Terumo: Research Funding; Vertex Pharmaceuticals/CRISPR Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Soni:CRISPR Therapeutics: Current Employment, Current equity holder in private company. Steinberg:Vertex Pharmaceuticals/CRISPR Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Fulcrum Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; DSMB: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Imara: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Weinstein:CRISPR Therapeutics: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Wu:Bayer: Research Funding; Novo Nordisk: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Octapharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; CSL Behring: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bioverativ: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sanofi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Description: INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a well documented clinical complication in Non-Transfusion Dependent Thalassemia (NTDT) patients, and it is associated with poor outcome [1]. PH prevalence is extremely variable among studied cohorts, ranging from 4.8% to 59% [2, 3]. Nevertheless, in the majority of the studies, the diagnosis is based on echocardiography, whereas the gold standard for PH definition is right heart catheterization (RHC). Thus, PH real prevalence, its pathophysiological mechanisms and risk factors still need to be elucidated. AIM:The aim of this study is to define the prevalence of PH in a cohort of NTDT patients through the application of the PH diagnostic work-up of the European Society of Cardiology Guidelines (ESC) [4]. We also aimed to investigate the involved pathophysiological mechanisms, to define risk factors, and to identify a potential role for cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in the risk stratification. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We planned a screening program for all NTDT patients referring to Rare Disease Center, in collaboration with the Dyspnea Lab of the Cardiology Unit, at Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Policlinico in Milan. Following the systematic approach of ESC PH algorithm, together with an echocardiogram and cardiological evaluation, our patients underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and the dosage of NT-proBNP. Patients were stratified according to PH probability (low vs intermediate-high) and further investigations (including V/Q lung scan and RHC) to confirm PH were performed in those with intermediate-high risk. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:48 NTDT patients (18 females and 30 males) were consecutively enrolled over a period of 10 months. The mean age at enrollment was 46±12 years (median 45, range 25-72 years) and a wide spectrum of thalassemia genotypes was observed. 38 out of 48 (79%) had a low PH probability according to NYHA class and echocardiogram, thus they were addressed to regular follow-up. 10 patients presented intermediate-high PH probability and underwent further tests. So far, 6 out of 10 intermediate-high risk underwent RHC: PH was confirmed in 5 cases, allowing to identify 2 post-capillary PH, 1 pre-capillary PH (due to pulmonary embolism detected with V/Q scan) and 2 forms of PH due to high cardiac output (CO). The sixth patient showed a condition of high CO but with a mean arterial pulmonary pressure just below the value needed to diagnose PH. Thus, PH was confirmed in 5 out of 48 patients, with a prevalence of 10.4%. The four remaining patients with high PH probability are planned to be tested. Comparing those with high and low PH probability, the first were older (58.4 ±8.9 vs 42.6 ±10.7 years, p=0.0002) and presented higher NT-proBNP (450±442 vs 92±99 ng/mL, p=0.0001). Hemoglobin, erythroblasts, and platelet count were similar. Patients with high PH probability on CPET reached a lower maximal workload (87.9 W ±32.1 vs 126.9 ±41.6W) and lower O2 consumption (1207.7 ±284.5 vs 1594 ±454.8 mL/min), together with worse ventilation efficiency (VE/VCO2 slope 40.9 ±6.9 vs 29.4 ±3.85). CONCLUSIONS: In our cohort, according to these preliminary data, PH prevalence in NTDT is 10.4% and older patients seem to be at higher risk. Thus, cardiac evaluation programs are required, considering the increased life span. RHC is mandatory to confirm the diagnosis, to identify the underlying mechanisms and consequently a proper treatment. CPET may have an essential role in detecting predictive and prognostic parameters of PH and in defining different hemodynamic mechanisms (pre- or post-capillary) to select patients requiring RHC. Together with pulmonary embolism, which needs to be excluded with imaging, high CO due to chronic anemia seems to play an important role. This hypothesis could have significant treatment implications, giving more importance to increase Hb levels, either with blood transfusions or new therapies. Sleiman J, Int J Mol Sci 2018 2 Derchi G, Circulation 2014 3 Aessopos E., Blood 2001 4 Galiè N, Eur Heart J 2016 Disclosures Motta: Sanofi Genzyme:Honoraria.Cappellini:Genzyme/Sanofi:Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;CRISPR Therapeutics, Novartis, Vifor Pharma:Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;BMS:Honoraria.

Description: Background:Gaucher disease (GD) is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder due to the deficiency of beta-glucosidase enzyme. Its prevalence in the non-Ashkenazy Jewish population is 1:40.000-100.000, whereas in Ashkenazy Jewish 1:500-1000. Patients present several hematological symptoms, including splenomegaly (86%), anemia (64%), thrombocytopenia (56%), bleeding, and MGUS, leading them to consult a hematologist on their diagnostic pathway. However, an international survey showed that only 20% of hematologists included GD in the differential diagnosis of a patient with anemia, thrombocytopenia, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, and bone pain (Mistry PK, Am J Hematol 2007). Indeed, GD is underdiagnosed, patients experience long diagnostic delays, and misdiagnoses, leading to inappropriate procedures, treatments, and complications that often cannot be reversed by treatment. Half of the patients are diagnosed through bone marrow biopsy, although the diagnostic gold standard is the activity of beta-glucosidase on leukocytes or fibroblasts. Among the crucial obstacles to diagnosis, physicians identify the outsourced diagnostic test and, more importantly, the lack of awareness. Thus, ten years ago, a panel of experts published two diagnostic algorithms, one for the Ashkenazi and one for the non-Ashkenazi Jewish population, to facilitate the diagnosis of GD for hematologists (Mistry PK, Am J Hematol. 2011). Newborn screening has been experimented, showing an incidence of 1:22.205 (Burlina AB, J Inherit Metab Dis 2018). However, the large-scale implementation of newborn screening should be carefully evaluated. We hypothesized that an approach that combines the use of a diagnostic algorithm and a simple and cheap test could facilitate the diagnosis. Preliminary results of this study on 196 patients have been previously published, showing a prevalence of 3.6% of GD in a high-risk population (Motta I, Eur J Haem 2016). Aim:The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of GD in a high-risk population presenting to the hematologist for splenomegaly and/or thrombocytopenia associated with other hematological signs or symptoms suggestive for GD. Methods:We designed a multicenter observational study among hematology centers in Italy. The study enrollment started in September 2010 and closed in December 2018. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were based on the published algorithm for the non-Ashkenazi population: Inclusion criteria: Splenomegaly and/or thrombocytopenia plus at least one among bone pain history, anemia, MGUS, polyclonal gammopathy in under 30 yrs, splenectomy;Exclusion criteria: onco-hematological diseases, portal hypertension due to liver diseases, hemoglobinopathies or chronic hemolytic anemias. The beta-glucosidase activity tests on Dried Blood Spot (DBS) were centralized at Ospedale Gaslini, Genoa (Italy). Results:500 subjects have been enrolled. 45 have been excluded because they did not fulfill the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The mean age at enrollment was 46.9±17.4 years, 31.9% (145/455) were females. The majority of enrolled patients had splenomegaly (89.7%), and approximately half (47.9%) thrombocytopenia associated with the other signs/symptoms. Anemia was the most frequent adjunctive sign (23.1%). The prevalence of GD was 3.3% (15/455, IC 95%: 1.9-5.4) in this high-risk population. In 14/15 of these patients, the molecular analysis of GBA gene identified the mutations. GD patients showed a significantly lower PLT count compared to non-GD patients (84.000/mm3 vs. 131.000/mm3, p

Description: Introduction: β-thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder characterized by ineffective erythropoiesis and anemia. Although RBC transfusions are a key supportive treatment for patients (pts) with anemia due to β-thalassemia, they may be associated with life-threatening complications including iron overload. Luspatercept, a first-in-class erythroid maturation agent, is approved by the FDA for the treatment of anemia in adult pts with β-thalassemia requiring regular RBC transfusions. Here we present a longitudinal analysis of the benefits of luspatercept on RBC transfusion burden (TB) in the BELIEVE trial, a phase 3, double-blind, randomized, placebo (PBO)-controlled study evaluating the efficacy and safety of luspatercept in adult pts with β-thalassemia requiring regular RBC transfusions (NCT02604433; Cappellini MD, et al. N Engl J Med 2020;382:1219-31). Methods: Pts were aged ≥ 18 y with β-thalassemia or hemoglobin (Hb) E/β-thalassemia (compound β-thalassemia mutation and/or multiplication of α-globin genes was allowed) and required regular RBC transfusions (6-20 RBC units in the 24 wks prior to randomization, no transfusion-free period 〉 35 days). Pts were randomized 2:1 to luspatercept 1.0 mg/kg (up to 1.25 mg/kg allowed) or PBO subcutaneously every 3 wks for ≥ 48 wks. Pts in both treatment arms continued to receive best supportive care, including RBC transfusions to maintain target pretransfusion Hb levels and iron chelation therapy. After study unblinding, pts randomized to PBO were eligible to cross over to receive luspatercept in an open-label phase. Mean RBC units transfused and mean change in RBC TB and number of visits were assessed in luspatercept (by primary endpoint responders and non-responders) and PBO arms during the first 48 wks. Long-term changes in RBC TB and visits in luspatercept pts remaining on treatment were assessed every 24 wks from treatment initiation to data cutoff (July 1, 2019). Results: Of 336 pts enrolled, 224 were randomized to the luspatercept arm and 112 to PBO. During the 24 wks prior to randomization, median RBC TB was 14.3 RBC units (range 6.0-26.0) and median pretransfusion Hb level was 9.27 g/dL (range 4.5-11.7). As of July 1, 2019, median treatment duration for pts in the luspatercept and PBO (prior to crossover) arms was 119.1 and 74.7 wks, respectively. 68.2% of pts initially randomized to the luspatercept arm were still receiving treatment at the end of 2 y. Pts in the luspatercept arm experienced a mean change of −2.20 RBC units/24 wks transfused vs +0.72 RBC units/24 wks in PBO-treated pts during Wks 1-24 compared to baseline (least squares [LS] mean difference −2.95; 95% confidence interval [CI] −3.59, −2.32; P 〈 0.001) (Table A). In Wks 25-48, mean changes of −2.53 and +0.21 RBC units/24 wks transfused were reported in luspatercept- and PBO-treated pts, respectively (LS mean difference −2.76; 95% CI −3.46, −2.06; P 〈 0.001). During Wks 1-24 and 25-48, luspatercept responders (defined as pts achieving ≥ 33% reduction in RBC TB during Wks 13-24, with a reduction of ≥ 2 RBC units, vs baseline) experienced mean transfusion reductions of −5.32 and −4.83 RBC units/24 wks, respectively, and luspatercept non-responders experienced mean changes of −1.30 and −1.85 RBC units/24 wks. Luspatercept-treated pts continued to experience durable, sustained reductions in RBC units up to 144 wks of follow-up (Table B). During Wks 1-24, luspatercept-treated pts experienced a mean change of −0.49 in transfusion event frequency vs +0.32 for PBO-treated pts (LS mean difference −0.78; 95% CI −1.16, −0.40; P 〈 0.001) (Table A). Mean changes in transfusion visits of −0.54 and +0.14 were experienced by pts in the luspatercept and PBO arms, respectively, during Wks 25-48 (LS mean difference −0.65; 95% CI −1.03, −0.26; P = 0.001). Luspatercept responders and non-responders reported mean reductions in transfusion visits during Wks 1-24 (−1.38, P 〈 0.001 and −0.23, P = 0.006, respectively) and Wks 25-48 (−1.09, P 〈 0.001 and −0.38, P = 0.010, respectively) vs baseline. Sustained reductions in transfusion visits persisted for over 2 y; as the BELIEVE trial is still ongoing, only a small number of pts could be evaluated at later time points (Table B). Conclusions: Luspatercept was associated with sustained reductions in RBC transfusion units and visits in responders and non-responders during the first 48 wks vs PBO. Pts on luspatercept continued to experience reductions in RBC TB and events over 2 y. Figure 1 Disclosures Taher: BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; Ionis Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Vifor Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; Silence Therapeutics: Consultancy; Novartis Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Research Funding. Viprakasit:Agios Pharmaceuticals, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, La Jolla Pharmaceuticals, Protagonist Therapeutics, Vifor Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; BMS, Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Hermine:Roche: Consultancy; Celgene BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; AB Science: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Honoraria, Patents & Royalties, Research Funding; Alexion: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding. Porter:Protagonist Therapeutics: Honoraria; Vifor Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria; Silence Therapeutics: Honoraria; La Jolla Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria; Agios Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria; bluebird bio, Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria. Piga:BMS: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding. Kuo:Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Bioverativ: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Alexion: Consultancy, Honoraria; Agios: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Consultancy; Apellis: Consultancy; Bluebird Bio: Consultancy. Coates:Celgene, BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bluebird Pharma: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sangamo: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Agios pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria; apo pharma (Chiesi Pharma): Consultancy, Honoraria; Vifor Pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria. Voskaridou:ACCELERON Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; PROTAGONIST Company: Research Funding; ADDMEDICA Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; NOVARTIS Company: Research Funding; GENESIS Company: Consultancy, Research Funding. Kattamis:Agios: Consultancy; Ionis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Vertex: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Vifor: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene/BMS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Apopharma/Chiesi: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Genesis Pharma SA: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Shetty:BMS: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Zhang:BMS: Current Employment. Tian:BMS: Current Employment. Miteva:BMS: Current Employment. Zinger:Celgene International, A Bristol-Myers Squibb Company: Current Employment. Tang:BMS: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Backstrom:Acceleron Pharma: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; BMS: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Cappellini:BMS: Honoraria; CRISPR Therapeutics, Novartis, Vifor Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Genzyme/Sanofi: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Description: Introduction: Regular red blood cell (RBC) transfusions are the main supportive treatment for chronic anemia due to β-thalassemia. Transfusion-dependent pts require ICT to prevent iron overload from RBC transfusions, and associated complications. Thus, there is a clinical need to reduce transfusions and iron burden in pts with anemia due to β-thalassemia. Luspatercept, an erythroid maturation agent, is approved by the FDA for treatment of anemia in adult pts with β-thalassemia who require regular RBC transfusions. The phase 3, double-blind, randomized, placebo (PBO)-controlled BELIEVE study is evaluating the efficacy and safety of luspatercept in adult pts with β-thalassemia requiring regular RBC transfusions (NCT02604433; Cappellini MD, et al. N Engl J Med 2020;382:1219-31). Here we assess the effect of long-term luspatercept use on iron loading and ICT use in the BELIEVE trial. Methods: Pts were ≥ 18 years with β-thalassemia or hemoglobin (Hb) E/β-thalassemia (compound β-thalassemia mutation and/or multiplication of α-globin genes was allowed) and required regular RBC transfusions (defined as 6-20 RBC units in the 24 wks prior to randomization with no transfusion-free period 〉 35 days). Pts were randomized 2:1 to luspatercept 1.0 mg/kg (up to 1.25 mg/kg allowed) or PBO subcutaneously every 3 wks for ≥ 48 wks. Pts in both treatment arms continued to receive RBC transfusions to maintain target pretransfusion Hb levels, as well as ICT (deferasirox, deferoxamine, and deferiprone alone or in combination) per product label and physician practice prior to randomization. After study unblinding, pts randomized to PBO were eligible to cross over to luspatercept in an open-label phase. Risk for iron overload-related complications was evaluated by stratifying pts into categories based on serum ferritin (SF) level (〈 1,000 μg/L, 1,000 to 〈 2,500 μg/L, ≥ 2,500 μg/L), liver iron concentration (LIC; ≤ 3 mg/g dw, 〉 3 mg/g dw), and myocardial iron (by T2* MRI; ≤ 20 ms, 〉 20 ms). Long-term changes in SF and ICT use were assessed in luspatercept pts remaining on treatment up to data cutoff (July 1, 2019) or study discontinuation, whichever was earlier. Results: Of 336 pts enrolled, 224 were randomized to luspatercept and 112 to PBO. Mean baseline SF, LIC, and myocardial T2* for luspatercept vs PBO arms were 2,097 vs 1,845 μg/L, 12.0 vs 10.1 mg/g dw, and 33.5 vs 34.8 ms, respectively. Overall, 97.3% of pts received ICT at baseline. As of July 1, 2019, 67.9% of pts initially randomized to luspatercept were still receiving treatment at the end of 2 years; 92 (82.1%) PBO pts crossed over to luspatercept after study unblinding. Of 141 luspatercept-treated pts with baseline mean SF ≥ 1,000 μg/L, 24 (17.0%) pts achieved post-baseline mean SF 〈 1,000 μg/L when assessed over Wks 1−24, vs 3 (5.0%) PBO-treated pts. During Wks 73−96, 26/56 (46.4%) luspatercept pts with baseline mean SF ≥ 1,000 μg/L achieved post-baseline mean SF 〈 1,000 μg/L (Figure A). At Wks 24 and 48, 5/120 (4.2%) and 13/134 (9.7%) luspatercept pts, respectively, shifted from LIC 〉 3 mg/g dw at baseline to ≤ 3 mg/g dw, vs 4/61 (6.6%) and 4/68 (5.9%) PBO pts; 15/105 (14.3%) of luspatercept pts shifted from LIC 〉 3 mg/g dw at baseline to ≤ 3 mg/g dw at Wk 96. 6/30 (20.0%) pts receiving luspatercept shifted from myocardial iron T2* ≤ 20 ms at baseline to 〉 20 ms at Wk 48 (vs 1/11 [9.1%] PBO pts); at Wk 96, 6/24 (25.0%) luspatercept-treated pts shifted from ≤ 20 ms to 〉 20 ms. During Wks 1-12, mean daily deferasirox dose in luspatercept pts was 1,477.08 mg (mean change from baseline +136.27 mg) and 1,516.28 mg (mean change from baseline +131.80 mg) in PBO pts. No significant difference was seen between luspatercept and PBO arms during the first 48 weeks, however, the proportion of patients receiving ≥ 1 ICT gradually declined in both luspatercept responders (defined as pts achieving ≥ 33% reduction in transfusion burden from baseline during Wks 13−24) and non-responders over time (Figure B). Both luspatercept responders and non-responders also experienced a gradual decrease in mean daily dose of deferasirox over time (Figure C). Conclusions: Compared with PBO-treated pts, a higher proportion of luspatercept-treated pts shifted to lower SF, LIC, and myocardial iron levels during the first 48 wks, indicative of lower risk of iron overload complications. Long-term luspatercept treatment led to an increasing proportion of patients with SF 〈 1,000 μg/L and decreasing trends of overall ICT use and deferasirox dosage. Figure 1 Disclosures Hermine: Celgene BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; AB Science: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Honoraria, Patents & Royalties, Research Funding; Alexion: Research Funding; Roche: Consultancy; Novartis: Research Funding. Cappellini:CRISPR Therapeutics, Novartis, Vifor Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Genzyme/Sanofi: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Honoraria. Taher:Novartis Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; Ionis Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Vifor Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; Silence Therapeutics: Consultancy. Coates:Sangamo: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Agios pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene, BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bluebird Pharma: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; apo pharma (Chiesi Pharma): Consultancy, Honoraria; Vifor Pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria. Viprakasit:BMS, Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Agios Pharmaceuticals, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, La Jolla Pharmaceuticals, Protagonist Therapeutics, Vifor Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding. Voskaridou:ADDMEDICA Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; NOVARTIS Company: Research Funding; GENESIS Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; PROTAGONIST Company: Research Funding; ACCELERON Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding. Lal:Chiesi USA: Consultancy; Novartis: Research Funding; Celgene, BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company: Research Funding; bluebird bio, Inc.: Research Funding; Insight Magnetics: Research Funding; Terumo Corporation: Research Funding; Protagonist Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Agios Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy. Perrotta:Acceleron Pharma: Research Funding; Celgene, BMS: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding. Kattamis:Genesis Pharma SA: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene/BMS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Apopharma/Chiesi: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Ionis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Vertex: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Vifor: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Agios: Consultancy. Shetty:BMS: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Zhang:BMS: Current Employment. Tian:BMS: Current Employment. Miteva:BMS: Current Employment. Zinger:Celgene International, A Bristol-Myers Squibb Company: Current Employment. Tang:BMS: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Backstrom:BMS: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Acceleron Pharma: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Porter:Agios Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria; Protagonist Therapeutics: Honoraria; Silence Therapeutics: Honoraria; La Jolla Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria; Vifor Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria; bluebird bio, Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria.