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Pfizer Cuts Last AAV Gene Therapy Program By Taking Beqvez Off The Market

Product Saw Zero Sales Since April Approval

 
• By Mandy Jackson

Pfizer cited many reasons for ending sales of hemophilia B gene therapy Beqvez, including a lack of patient and doctor interest. The company no longer plans to develop AAV gene therapies.

Beqvez was the last gene therapy left in Pfizer's portfolio (Shutterstock)
Key Takeaways
  • Pfizer will end global development and commercialization of hemophilia B gene therapy Beqvez due to a lack of patient and doctor interest, terminating the last of its AAV gene therapy programs.
  • The decision was made soon after partner Sangamo said Pfizer would give up its rights to the companies’ hemophilia A gene therapy candidate ahead of planned regulatory submissions.
  • Beqvez is the third hematology asset Pfizer has given up on during the past five months after ending its Sangamo partnership in December and withdrawing Oxbryta from the market in September.

Less than two months after Pfizer opted to give up its rights to late-stage Sangamo Therapeutics-partnered hemophilia A gene therapy candidate giroctocogene fitelparvovec, the big pharma has decided to end development and commercialization of Beqvez (fidanacogene elaparvovec-dzkt), its hemophilia B gene therapy approved in the US in April 2024

Two gene therapies – Beqvez, along with uniQure and CSL Behring’s Hemgenix (etranacogene dezaparvovec) – are approved for hemophilia B, while one, BioMarin Pharmaceutical’s Roctavian (valoctocogene roxaparvovec), is approved for hemophilia A

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