Catalytic domain variants of activated factor VII (FVIIa) with enhanced hemostatic properties are highly attractive for the treatment of bleeding disorders via genebased therapy. To explore this in a hemophilic mouse model, we characterized 2 variants of murine activated FVII (mFVIIa-VEAY and mFVIIa-DVQ) with modified catalytic domains, based on recombinant human FVIIa (rhFVIIa) variants. Using purified recombinant proteins, we showed that murine FVIIa (mFVIIa) and variants had comparable binding to human and murine tissue factor (TF) and exhibited similar extrinsic coagulant activity. In vitro in the absence of TF, the variants showed a 6-to 17-fold enhanced proteolytic and coagulant activity relative to mFVIIa, but increased inactivation by antithrombin. Gene delivery of mFVIIa-VEAY resulted in long-term, effective hemostasis at 5-fold lower expression levels relative to mFVIIa in hemophilia A mice or in hemophilia B mice with inhibitors to factor IX. However, expression of mFVIIa-VEAY at 14-fold higher than therapeutic levels resulted in a progressive mortality to 70% within 6 weeks after gene delivery.
IntroductionOver the past 3 decades, discoveries in multiple disciplines have been instrumental in the molecular dissection of hemophilia. These resulted in the development of novel therapies for the disease, including more effective treatment for the most serious complication in factor replacement, the development of inhibitory antibodies to factor VIII (FVIII) or IX (FIX). In particular, rhFVIIa (commercially known as NovoSeven [Novo Nordisk]) has a proven record of successful treatment for hemophilia patients with inhibitors, by providing localized hemostasis when administered at supraphysiologic doses of 90-110 g/kg. 1 However, its short plasma half-life (2.7 hours) necessitates frequent infusions, resulting in high treatment costs 2 and preventing its use as a universal hemostatic agent.For pharmacologic intervention, efforts to enhance the procoagulant activity of rhFVIIa have focused on chemical modification/ formulation 3,4 or the rational design of novel, high-specific activity variants of rhFVIIa. This has been achieved by enhancing the phospholipid binding or increasing the catalytic activity of rhFVIIa. [5][6][7][8] Although data from human subjects suggest that a single-dose of a rhFVIIa variant (rhFVIIa-DVQ, also known as NN1731) with enhanced, TF-independent activity is safe, 9 efficacy and long-term safety data in hemophilic patients are limited. Moreover, the majority of its in vivo efficacy data have been derived using nonhomologous animal models in short-term studies, where potential species incompatibilities between human FVIIa and endogenous (animal) TF 10 may affect the hemostatic outcomes. 11,12 As an alternative to rhFVIIa infusion, we have demonstrated in animal models the efficacy of gene-based FVIIa therapy for inherited bleeding disorders. In a pilot study, we generated a murine factor VII (mFVII) transgene (mFVII-2RKR) that can be secreted in its active form (mFVIIa) and, after co...