Speaking with the man, first in Canada, to receive breakthrough hemophilia B gene therapy

Basel Abushawish speaks with CTV News via Zoom. He is the first patient in Canada to be treated with HEMGENIX, a gene therapy treatment for adults with hemophilia-B.

There’s new hope for adults living with hemophilia B, a rare bleeding disorder.

London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) has administered the first treatment in Canada using a new, one-time gene therapy that could replace a lifetime of Factor IX transfusions — a protein that helps stop bleeding.

“So now, when the doctor told me we are good, first thing I’m going to do is sports,” said Basel Abushawish.

The 31-year-old London, Ont., man has lived with hemophilia B his entire life. Because of the disorder, he has never been able to participate in sports.

For those living with hemophilia B, the condition can mean repeated, unpredictable bleeds, joint damage and debilitating pain.

“It is a lot of pain, to be honest. When you have bleeding, you cannot do your normal life activities — sometimes even go to the washroom. If you have bleeding in your ankle, or anywhere, you cannot walk,” Abushawish said.

On May 13, he became the first patient in Canada to receive HEMGENIX at LHSC — a new, one-time gene therapy for adults with the disorder.

“This milestone marks a transformative step in Canadian hemophilia care,” said Dr. Chai Phua, who oversaw the treatment.

Phua said the therapy has been decades in the making and could be life-changing for people living with hemophilia B.

“Yes, absolutely. It’s a major breakthrough because it shifts hemophilia B treatment from lifelong, frequent infusions to a one-time therapy that helps the body produce its own Factor IX,” Phua said. “That means less bleeding overall, less treatment burden and potential independence from regular treatment. It’s a full paradigm shift in how we treat hemophilia B.”

Hemophilia affects about 3,800 Canadians.

HEMGENIX is now publicly funded in British Columbia and Ontario for eligible patients.

As for Abushawish, he says he can’t wait to leave the sidelines and finally get on the soccer pitch — a freedom he has never known.

“To be honest, I’ve never done sports in my life, so this is going to be big,” he said.