Hematology Commons^™

Structure Determination Of A Bioengineered Human/Porcine Factor Viii For Hemophilia A Treatment, And Improvements To The Human Factor Viii Model, Ian Smith

Graduate Student Symposium

Blood coagulation factor VIII (FVIII), is a non-enzymatic cofactor which plays a crucial role in the formation of a stable blood clot. Absence or deficiency of FVIII results in the blood disorder hemophilia A; with symptoms including internal hemorrhaging and the inability to stop bleeding from open wounds. Treatment of hemophilia A relies on infusions of blood, plasma, or protein concentrates to replace FVIII. Unfortunately, approximately 30% of patients receiving replacement FVIII generate pathologic anti-FVIII inhibitory antibodies, which both reduce the effectiveness of the FVIII therapeutic and increase the severity of hemophilia A symptoms.

We have determined the molecular structure …