Pfizer said to be discontinuing Roche-partnered hemophilia therapy Beqvez

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) has decided to end R&D and marketing activities related to Beqvez, a one-time gene therapy the company has developed with Roche’s (OTCQX:RHHBY) (OTCQX:RHHBF) Spark Therapeutics for hemophilia B, Nikkei Asia reported Thursday.

Confirming the discontinuation, a company representative said it was a business decision. Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) said concerns such as low patient uptake and a lack of interest among prescribers led it to discontinue the therapy.

The company added that it would allocate resources towards an alternative hemophilia therapy currently in development.

PFE didn’t respond to questions on the future supply of Beqvez in the U.S., where the FDA approved the drug as a late-line option for adults with hemophilia B in December. At the time, the EU regulators were reviewing its marketing application, and Canada had just approved it.

Beqvez's U.S. market launch came when other hemophilia B gene therapies, Hemgenix from UniQure (QURE)/CSL Behring (CSL) and Roctavian from BioMarin Pharmaceutical (BMRN), had fallen short of expectations due to concerns such as side effects and high cost.