Gene therapy treats hemophilia B at Naples' Federico II Hospital

A 40‑year‑old patient, Enrico, became the first person in Campania to receive a gene‑therapy treatment for hemophilia B at the University Hospital Federico II in Naples. The single intravenous infusion introduced a functional copy of the factor IX gene into liver cells, enabling the body to produce the missing clotting protein continuously. The procedure, carried out on 24 July, is expected to protect Enrico from bleeding episodes for the next 25 years without further replacement therapy.

The treatment was led by Professor Matteo Di Minno, with Dr Ilenia Calcaterra and a multidisciplinary team. They highlighted that only a handful of centres worldwide can perform this therapy and that the Federico II Hospital is one of two in Italy capable of offering it. Hospital director Elvira Bianco called the achievement a “new hope” for patients with hemophilia B and a milestone for regional healthcare.

The success marks the first application of hemophilia B gene therapy in the Campania region and underscores the growing role of advanced translational research in Italian public hospitals.