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

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

By Bryan Bicknell - CTV News

Published: May 21, 2026 at 1:31PM EDT

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.

“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.