New therapy brings home treatment closer for haemophilia patients

Patients with Haemophilia A in Gozo are set to benefit from a new treatment being introduced, which could eventually allow them to manage their condition from home and reduce hospital visits.

The treatment, Emicizumab, has now started being administered to a group patients at Mater Dei Hospital, with the service expected to gradually expand in the coming months.

For people with Haemophilia A, a rare blood disorder caused by a deficiency of Factor VIII, the new treatment offers an easier alternative to conventional therapy.

Emicizumab helps the blood to clot without requiring the frequent intravenous infusions associated with traditional Factor VIII treatment. It is instead administered as an injection under the skin and at considerably longer intervals.

For patients from Gozo, the change could be particularly significant, reducing the need for repeated trips to Malta for treatment.

The eventual aim is for suitable patients to be able to self-administer Emicizumab at home, giving them greater independence and reducing the disruption that regular hospital-based treatment can cause to their lives and those of their families.

The first patients have started treatment at Mater Dei in recent days, with the rollout expected to continue gradually over the coming months.

Health Minister Ian Borg said the government was continuing to work on increasing access to medicines in both Malta and Gozo.

“We are continuing to explore how we can expand our services in the field of medicines and ensure that patients have access to innovative treatments that can make a tangible difference in their lives,” Borg said.

He said the introduction of Emicizumab complemented medicines and treatments already available to patients and would improve the quality of life of those requiring the therapy.

Chief Medical Officer Clarence Pace said the main difference from traditional treatment was the way in which the medicine is administered.

“Whereas pharmaceutical treatment for this condition previously required medicines to be administered through an intravenous infusion, this medicine can now be administered as an injection under the skin, far less frequently,” Pace said.

He added that patients would eventually be able to administer the treatment in the comfort of their own homes, meaning fewer hospital visits and fewer difficulties for patients.

The rollout is expected to benefit Haemophilia A patients across Malta and Gozo, with the move forming part of the government’s wider push towards innovative therapies that can improve clinical outcomes while reducing the practical burden of treatment.