Functional characteristics of N8, a new recombinant FVIII

The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro function of the new recombinant factor VIII (FVIII) compound, N8. The specific activity of N8 as measured in a FVIII:C one-stage clot assay was 9300 +/- 400 IU mg-1 based on the analysis of seven individual batches. The ratio between the FVIII:C activity measured in clot and chromogenic assays was 1.00 (95% confidence interval 0.97-1.03). N8 bound to von Willebrand factor with K-d values of 0.2 nm when measured by ELISA and by surface plasmon resonance. FVIIIa cofactor activity was determined from the kinetic parameters of factor IXa-catalysed factor X (FX) activation. The rate of activation of N8 by thrombin as well as K-m and k(cat) for FX activation was in the same range as those observed for Advate (R). The rate of activated protein C (APC)-catalysed inactivation was similar for activated N8 and Advate (R). N8 improved thrombin generation in a dose-dependent manner and induced similar rates of thrombin generation as Advate (R) and the plasma-derived FVIII product Haemate (R). Using thromboelastography (TEG (R)), N8 was shown to improve the clot formation and clot stability in whole blood from haemophilia A patients. Comparable potency and efficacy of N8 and Advate (R) was found based on TEG (R) parameters. Finally, similar binding profiles to immobilized lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) of N8 and Advate (R) were observed. The study demonstrated that N8 is fully functional in a variety of assays measuring FVIII activity. No functional differences were found between N8 and comparator compounds.