Genentech discloses deaths in patients treated with Hemlibra

The Hemophilia Federation of America said on Tuesday that it was notified by the Genentech Inc. unit of Roche (SIX:ROG; OTCQX:RHHBY) that a total of five deaths have occurred in patients receiving hemophilia drug Hemlibra emicizumab-kxwh, including three deaths in patients taking the drug under a compassionate use program and one death in a patient treated under an expanded access program.

One of the patient deaths, which was reported in February 2017, occurred in the Phase III HAVEN 1 trial of Hemlibra. That death was determined to be caused by rectal hemorrhage and was not related to Hemlibra...