Music is my passion. I’m lucky because I’ve been able to make it my career. I teach music and I have 2 bands that I tour the nation with, and whenever I get the chance, I advocate for the hemophilia community. I would consider that a pretty good life, if you ask me.

I’m Chayse, and I live in Georgia with my wife Katie, and I have hemophilia A. After I was born, I had experienced excessive bleeding from a routine procedure and frequent bruising. Even though doctors dismissed it, my parents—they knew something wasn’t right. I was diagnosed when I was 6 months old, which was a shock because there was no history of hemophilia in the family.

It can be hard to deal with things that make you feel different. My dad and my brother were both sports stars, but I couldn’t do the same activities. My mom introduced me to music, and I just fell in love with it instantly. I just knew it was my place to shine. But I was lucky because my family never made me feel like being different was a bad thing. It was just our normal.

I first started hearing about ALTUVIIIO from my hemophilia community in 2023. I looked at the study results and was excited about the bleed rates. I was interested in the 48-hour half-life in adults and that meant I would only have to infuse once a week. With my previous treatment, I infused every other day. I did the math and for the last 28 years of my life, I’ve been sticking myself 5000 times. On average, that’s 180 times a year. Compared to the ALTUVIIIO schedule, which is 52 times a year—that’s a pretty big difference. When I realized what that infusion schedule could mean for my life and my veins, I knew that I had to try ALTUVIIIO.

I switched to ALTUVIIIO in January of 2024. I was really excited to switch to a Factor VIII replacement therapy that would keep my factor activity levels in the near-normal to normal range for most of the week. My doctor talked to me about some of the possible side effects, which include headache and joint pain. Since switching, I have had zero bleeds and very little pain in my target joints, which are my ankles. This has been my experience, but everyone’s experience is different. It’s important that I find a treatment style that works for me because I need to feel confident that I’m doing what I can to protect myself and my joints from bleeds so I can continue to do what I love, like performing music or playing golf with my brother. I love playing golf. Me and my brother try and play every single week. I started playing a couple years ago. He’d already been playing and I was awful, truly awful. And now we’re to the point for the last 6 months, he’s having to really work hard to beat me.

Throughout my treatment journey, I’ve been committed to working with my doctor to find a factor replacement therapy that has proven bleed protection and a longer half-life. And we found that with ALTUVIIIO. If someone isn’t happy with their current treatment, I would say lay out exactly what it is that you’re unhappy with. Do you feel like you’re protected from bleeds? Do you want something with a longer half-life? Talk to your doctor and be specific. Speak up and be heard. You are worth finding a treatment plan that is right for you.

I’m being compensated to share my story with you in this video.

VO:

INDICATION

ALTUVIIIO [antihemophilic factor (recombinant), Fc-VWF-XTEN fusion protein-ehtl] is an injectable medicine that is used to control and reduce the number of bleeding episodes in people with hemophilia A (congenital Factor VIII deficiency).

Your healthcare provider may give you ALTUVIIIO when you have surgery.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

What is the most important information I need to know about ALTUVIIIO?
Do not attempt to give yourself an injection unless you have been taught how by your healthcare provider or hemophilia center. You must carefully follow your healthcare provider’s instructions regarding the dose and schedule for injecting ALTUVIIIO so that your treatment will work best for you.

Who should not use ALTUVIIIO?
You should not use ALTUVIIIO if you have had an allergic reaction to it in the past.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before using ALTUVIIIO?
Tell your healthcare provider if you have had any medical problems, take any medications, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, supplements, or herbal medicines, are breastfeeding, or are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.

What are the possible side effects of ALTUVIIIO?

You can have an allergic reaction to ALTUVIIIO. Call your healthcare provider or emergency department right away if you have any of the following symptoms: difficulty breathing, chest tightness, swelling of the face, rash, or hives.

Your body can also make antibodies called “inhibitors” against ALTUVIIIO. This can stop ALTUVIIIO from working properly. Your healthcare provider may give you blood tests to check for inhibitors.

The common side effects of ALTUVIIIO are headache and joint pain.

These are not the only possible side effects of ALTUVIIIO. Tell your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.

Please see full Prescribing Information.