These early, intermediate purity FVIII concentrates were easier to use, as they did not need to be frozen for storage, and each bottle

was labelled with the amount of FVIII contained. However, neither cryoprecipitates or these intermediate purity plasma-derived concentrates were treated for blood-borne viruses. Once these lyophilized concentrates became available, treatment for bleeding episodes was much easier, haemostatic BGJ398 mouse levels of FVIII could easily be achieved and, in the early 1970s, home treatment programs sprung up. The latter resulted in earlier treatment of joint bleeds, and a greater feeling of independence for those with haemophilia. Many referred to this period as the ‘golden age’ for haemophilia. However, this feeling was short-lived, as in 1981

the Communicable Disease Center (CDC) described the first three persons with haemophilia A who developed the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and these three were followed by more and more individuals with haemophilia, many of whom died of its complications [3–5]. In addition, it had become increasingly apparent that many persons with haemophilia had been infected with hepatitis viruses [5] (hepatitis B and so-called, ‘non-A, non-B’ hepatitis, subsequently Bortezomib supplier called hepatitis C after the HCV was identified). These serious complications of treatment resulted in increased efforts to make treatment safer. Lyophilized, intermediate purity concentrates were treated with dry heat medchemexpress [5]. Cryoprecipitates were no longer recommended for treatment of haemophilia A, being considered less safe than heat-treated products [6]. In 1981 Haemate P, a pasteurized FVIII and vWF concentrate became available in Germany. Predominantly used in Europe, this product was the first effectively virus-inactivated FVIII product [7]. Shortly

thereafter, other products of higher purity were developed, using monoclonal antibodies to FVIII or von Willebrand Factor (vWF) [8–11]. The production of these higher purity concentrates included multiple purification and virucidal steps (including heat treatment, solvent detergent treatment) to reduce the risk of viral transmission. However, during the relatively short-term hepatitis safety trials with these high purity FVIII concentrates, inhibitor assays (which were done at baseline and again at 6 months) demonstrated that some of the previously untreated subjects (PUPs) developed inhibitors to FVIII [8,9]. This was alarming at the time, and subsequently all prospective clinical trials in haemophilia A patients incorporated more frequent inhibitor assays and a longer duration of follow-up. In view of the high rate of transmission of blood-borne viruses by plasma-derived concentrates in the 1970s and early 1980s, there was a great deal of interest in the possibility of producing ‘synthetic’ FVIII and FIX.