Eleni Gavriilaki- 2nd Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
Hematology flows from the Greek haimo-, or “blood,” and the Latin logia, or “the study of.” Since blood has been an easy target to study, several eminent figures, also called “fathers” and “mothers” of hematology, have significantly contributed to the success story of this specialty. Over the last 30 years, hematologists have witnessed miracles in multiple fields, such as transplantation that evolved from fresh blood to peripheral stem cells and now cellular or gene therapies; or chronic myeloid leukemia that has been one of the first curable cancer without chemotherapy (1). Tremendous research and development in this unique clinico-laboratory specialty has led to better understanding of multiple disorders and targeted therapies.
In 2023, the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) has approved 55 new drugs, with the Center for Biologic Evaluation and Research (CBER) keeping the pace up too. Both centers belong to Federal Drug Association (FDA). These numbers reflect a growing amount of small molecule and biologic pharmacopeia, as well as cell and cellular products. As a therapeutic area, hematology continues to be a leading star, having received the majority of approvals in both areas. Table 1 summarizes selected approvals concerning hematology.
Table 1. Selected FDA approvals concerning hematology.
The most celebrated ones are the first product of gene editing utilizing CRISPR–Cas9 and a burst of gene therapies. In particular, exagamglogene autotemcel is the first gene editor based on CRISPR–Cas8 to be approved from the FDA, for sickle cell disease (SCD). This ex vivo gene therapy product (Exa-cel) is genetically modified at BCL11a transcription factor, re-enabling fetal hemoglobin production. In this context, defects in β-hemoglobin are compensated by the therapeutically upregulated fetal hemoglobin. Although clinical data suggests curative potential, further studies are needed to confirm its durability. Another gene therapy, lovotibeglogene autotemcel has been approved for SCD. A lentiviral vector is used to insert a transgene encoding the non-sickling hemoglobin HbAT87Q. Advances in gene editors and small molecules are expected in the near future, with the aim of wider accessibility (2).
Another celebrated field is the complement system, with full approvals to four inhibitors in 2023, concerning hematology and other specialties (3). Three of them target the terminal complement C5, which has been the target of eculizumab. This first-in-class complement inhibitor has been approved since 2007, for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), an ultra-rare hematologic disorder. In 2023, an RNA aptamer, avacincaptad pegol, targeting C5 has been approved for an ocular disease. Another monoclonal antibody against C5 is pozelimab. In 2023, pozelimab has been approved for CHAPLE (CD55-deficient protein-losing enteropathy), expands the horizon of complement inhibitors. New horizons in the field open with the first oral monotherapy, iptacopan, a Factor B inhibitor being approved for PNH (4). Additional complement competition is expected soon, including another oral complement inhibitor against factor D (5).
Interestingly, both gene therapy and complement inhibition are fields enabled by academic discoveries, highlighting that academic and clinical researchers have been the critical driving force to navigate therapeutics out of the shadow into the spotlight (6). These advancing fields strengthen the role of “classical hematology” as a continuously evolving field. In this field, great developments have been also seen in thrombotic microangiopathies, including thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) (7). This year marked the first drug approval in congenital TTP.
Beyond them, researchers and physicians working within the field of hematology are also actively involved in developments of relative fields, such as infectious diseases, including COVID-19 and vaccine development (8). More notable new entrants into the pharmacopeia and expansion of indications are also expected in the coming years.
Last but not least, hematological oncology continues to thrive with novel approvals and revolutionary therapies. Momelotinib has received approval from myelofibrosis patients, covering an unmet clinical need in the subset of patients with anemia (9). In parallel, bispecific antibodies and CAR (Chimeric antigen receptors)-T cells expand their products and indications mainly in patients with lymphoproliferative diseases and multiple myeloma (10). Talquetamab and elranatamab are two of these drugs approved in 2023 for multiple myeloma (11).
Nevertheless, novel developments come together with long-lasting challenges in the field. The most important one for our patients being accessibility to innovating treatments. Another one is diversity, equity and inclusion in research and clinical purposes (12). Finally, in the era of precision medicine, personalized selection of patients that would benefit from these treatments is important. Overcoming these challenges necessitates coordinated efforts from every partner in this field, including patient's organizations.
In Conclusion, hematology covers a broad spectrum of exciting advances that pave the way for a brighter future for our young colleagues and most importantly, for our patients. It is our role to continuously work for the success of our field.
Author contributions
EG: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing.
Funding
The author(s) declare that no financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Conflict of interest
EG has received honoraria from Alexion, Gilead, Sanofi, Sobi, and Omeros Pharmaceuticals.
The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision.
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References
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Keywords: complement, gene therapy, small molecules, biologics, bispecific antibodies, CAR T cells, classical hematology, hematological oncology
Citation: Gavriilaki E (2024) Hematology: the specialty with a record number of new approvals. Front. Med. 11:1385052. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1385052
Received: 11 February 2024; Accepted: 19 February 2024;
Published: 29 February 2024.
Edited and reviewed by: Michel Goldman, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium
Copyright © 2024 Gavriilaki. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Eleni Gavriilaki, elenicelli@yahoo.gr