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By Michelle Crean

A groundbreaking new drug could soon be on the market for haemophilia patients across the world as a Killarney man's clinical trial has dramatically changed his life.

Brian O'Mahony (62) - who has lived with the condition for over six decades - this week told the Killarney Advertiser that as a sufferer whose life has been severely impacted by the condition - the success of the drug "is life-changing".

Currently Chief Executive of the Irish Haemophilia Society, Brian from Dalton's Avenue is the only Kerry man - and only one of three in the country and just one of 54 globally - taking part in the trial. It's hoped that the drug which is only suitable for adult sufferers, could be on the market as early as 2022.

For Brian, having haemophilia, which is a bleeding disorder as a result of the body missing the Factor IX protein which helps clot the blood, meant injecting himself twice a week to keep his levels regular.

An active life meant taking extra doses to keep his health in check as bruising, falls or knocks could mean bleeding which he'd be unable to control and may see him hospitalised.

CLINICAL TRIAL

Brian jumped at the chance to take part in the new gene therapy trial earlier this year and it's been such a success that he now no longer has to inject himself.

"I have severe haemophilia," Brian told the Killarney Advertiser.

"I was taking the injections twice a week and that gives you an increased Factor IX. I would have done a lot of international travel up until this year and you're looking at your activities."

The new therapy, he explained, is a virus injected into the body.

"In order to get DNA into the system they give you a virus in an intravenous injection, a large dose into the body. This infusion of the matter goes into the liver cells. Prior to this my Factor IX was less than one percent. Now I'm near the normal range. I haven't had to take an injection since February. This is a functional cure. I've had no bleeds since and I'm fitter and healthier. It's life-changing."

Brian, former President or the World Federation of Haemophilia Organisation and President of the European Haemophilia Organisation, says there's 800 sufferers with the condition in Ireland - 270 who have a severe form.

He hopes the therapy will last 10 years or even a person's lifetime.

"Hopefully this will light the way forward."