A breakthrough ICMR study reveals low-dose emicizumab is just as effective as standard treatment for Haemophilia A. The reduced dosage slashes costs by over 50%, making therapy more affordable for patients. This is especially crucial in developing nations like India, where treatment access is limited. The findings promise better joint health and fewer bleeding episodes for sufferers.
June 25, 2025
Haemophilia A: Low dose emicizumab effective, will reduce cost by over 50 pc, says ICMR study
"Low-dose emicizumab will
reduce the cost of therapy by more than 50 per cent." – Dr. Manisha
Madkaikar, ICMR
Low dose of emicizumab could be
as effective as standard dose against Haemophilia A, according to a study led
by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
Key Points
1
Low-dose emicizumab matches standard treatment efficacy
2
Cuts lifetime costs by ₹7 crore per patient
3
Improves joint health and bleeding prevention
4
Makes therapy accessible in developing nations
Emicizumab is a bispecific
monoclonal antibody used to treat hemophilia A -- a genetic bleeding disorder.
The drug works by mimicking the
function of the missing or deficient clotting factor VIII (FVIII), enabling
blood clotting to occur and preventing or reducing bleeding episodes.
As per the official government
data, there are 27,000 haemophilia patients registered and 1, 40,000 patients
expected to be affected in India.
Low-dose emicizumab can also be
potentially a cost-effective treatment option in persons with hemophilia A,
especially in developing countries, the study revealed.
A standard dose of emicizumab is
priced approximately at $15,000.
“As the standard dose of the drug
is expensive making it difficult for people from lower economic strata to
access it, the ICMR led the study to understand its effectiveness even with a
low dose,” said Dr. Manisha Madkaikar, Director of ICMR- Centre for Research
Management and Control of Haemoglobinopathies (CRHCM) in Nagpur.
“Low-dose emicizumab will reduce
the cost of therapy by more than 50 per cent resulting in the saving of more
than 7 crore per patient for lifetime treatment assuming a life span of 50
years and average weight of 50 kg,” she added.
In the study, the scientists
compared the efficacy and safety of low-dose emicizumab with those on low-dose
factor (F)VIII prophylaxis via chart review.
Published in the Journal of
Thrombosis and Haemostasis, the ICMR team showed that the direct cost of
low-dose emicizumab was approximately $6,000 and that for low-dose recombinant
FVIII prophylaxis used in the study was $6,282 (the cost may range from $3432
to $7920 depending on the type of factor).
“Our study successfully
demonstrated that low-dose emicizumab is equally effective in the treatment of
Haemophilia,” Madkaikar said
Haemophilia can typically lead to
preventable joint damage. In about 80 per cent of cases, haemophilia manifests
as bleeding, most frequently involving the large joints like knees, ankles,
elbows, hip, and wrist, followed by deep bleeds affecting large body muscles.
Each bleeding episode requires
attention, and patients take a prolonged time for recovery and severe
complications could occur if any bleeding is not attended. Treatment with
monoclonal antibodies like emicizumab are offering better protection with fewer
infusions, especially for patients with inhibitors.
The study showed that low-dose
emicizumab also improves bleeding prevention, joint health, and quality of life
in patients with haemophilia.
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