Skip to main content

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to the cerliponase alfa managed access agreement in England for CLN2 treatment

Abstract

Background

Cerliponase alfa, an enzyme replacement therapy for neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 2 (CLN2), is currently available in England through a managed access agreement (MAA). It is administered every 2 weeks via an intracerebroventricular device. Here we report qualitative research with families of children with CLN2 disease and healthcare professionals (HCPs) who run the MAA, to understand how access to cerliponase alfa via the MAA at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London, and the overall management of CLN2 disease, was affected during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Methods

Telephone interviews were conducted with nine families, representing 11 children with CLN2 disease, and two HCPs in November and December 2020.

Results

Children had received cerliponase alfa treatment for a mean (SD) of 23.1 ± 24.7 months (7.1 ± 4.6 months in the MAA). Families travelled 7–398 km for treatment (mean 210 ± 111 km). Treatment with cerliponase alfa was designated “essential” by GOSH and continued as normal during the pandemic but with extra safety precautions, and no children missed any treatments. Families were highly motivated to continue treatment, despite considerable anxiety about the risk of coronavirus infection from travelling and staying overnight but were reassured by communications from GOSH and the safety precautions put in place. Support therapy services were widely compromised, causing families concern about deterioration in their children’s condition. Families were confused about COVID-19 testing and shielding, and were unclear whether children with CLN2 disease were vulnerable to COVID-19.

Conclusions

Looking forward, advice for children with CLN2 disease should be specific and tailored, taking into account the family unit. Support therapies should be considered essential alongside cerliponase alfa treatment.

Introduction

Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 2 (CLN2) is one of a group of rare inherited neurodegenerative and life-limiting disorders, commonly referred to as Batten disease. Mutations in the CLN2 gene on chromosome 11 cause deficiency in the lysosomal processing enzyme tripeptidyl peptidase 1 (TPP1) [1], which leads to the toxic accumulation of ceroid lipofuscin in neuronal cells in the brain and retina [2]. Children with late-infantile CLN2 disease develop normally in early life but signs such as seizures and coordination difficulties emerge by 2–4 years of age [1, 2]. Disease progression is generally rapid and predictable and by 4–5 years of age affected children have muscle spasms, loss of vision and intellectual disabilities, including difficulty sleeping and becoming distressed for no obvious reason [2, 3]. Most patients are unable to sit unsupported and become non-communicative by 6 years of age, have progressive difficulties with swallowing, constipation, hydration, respiratory function and sleep disturbance, and may need gastrostomy feeding [2]. Children rarely survive beyond 8–12 years [2, 3]. Late-infantile CLN2 is the most common type but around 8% of children present with atypical juvenile CLN2 with symptoms starting around 5–10 years of age [1].

The estimated incidence of CLN2 disease in the UK is 0.78 per 100,000 live births [4]; five or six children are diagnosed with CLN2 disease annually in the UK, with an estimated prevalence of 30–50 children [3].

The clinical management of CLN2 disease focuses on the control of symptoms and complications, using medicines and physical therapy, with the aim of maintaining function and quality of life [2]. Cerliponase alfa, a recombinant form of TPP1—an enzyme replacement therapy (ERT)—is the first disease-modifying treatment for CLN2 disease. It was licensed for the treatment of CLN2 disease by the European Medicines Agency in 2017 [5, 6]. Cerliponase alfa is infused via an intracerebroventricular (ICV) device, which is surgically implanted under the scalp using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guidance, 10–14 days before the first infusion [7]. A study in 24 children aged 3–16 years with CLN2 disease reported that treatment with cerliponase alfa significantly slowed decline in motor and language function compared with historic controls over 121 weeks’ treatment [8]. Clinical outcomes with cerliponase alfa have been reviewed by Specchio and colleagues [7].

Cerliponase alfa has been available in the UK since November 2019 under a managed access agreement (MAA) following appraisal by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). NICE acknowledged the benefits of cerliponase alpha seen in the early trials but considered that the benefits of long-term treatment were uncertain [2]. The 5-year MAA was therefore established to collect real-world evidence (until November 2024) for subsequent evaluation by NICE.

Cerliponase alfa can only be administered in a healthcare setting by a trained healthcare professional (HCP) knowledgeable in ICV infusion [2]; at the time of this study, this was only available at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London. Children require the ICV infusion every 2 weeks, which takes approximately 4.5 h [9]. In addition, the MAA requires that children undergo regular clinical assessments at GOSH and that parents/carers complete patient-reported outcome (PRO) questionnaires by telephone. Table 1 lists the eligibility criteria for the MAA, and criteria for staying in the MAA or stopping treatment.

Table 1 Criteria for entering and staying in the managed access agreement (MAA) [9]

The administration of cerliponase alfa at GOSH is potentially burdensome for families, requiring travel to London every 2 weeks. We wanted to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic affected access to the MAA. National lockdowns were implemented in England from 26 March to 31 May 2020, from 5 November to 5 December, and again from 26 December [11] (Fig. 1). Advice on shielding for vulnerable patients considered at particular risk of coronavirus infection was published on 21 May and updated frequently [12]. Rapid turnaround testing for COVID-19 became available in November 2020, aiming to identify non-symptomatic cases [13].

Fig. 1
figure 1

Time course of restrictions implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic in England [11]. ‘Support bubbles’ allowed two households to mix exclusively, without social distancing, under certain circumstances, including families with a child under 5 years of age requiring continuous care and lone parent families [14]. Under the tier system, restrictions in individual cities and regions were determined according to local case rates

Here, we report qualitative research with families of children with CLN2 disease and HCPs at GOSH to understand how access to cerliponase alfa via the MAA, and the overall management of CLN2 disease, were affected during the pandemic. The insights gathered in this study will help to understand the additional pressures on families during lockdown and will inform discussions with the National Health Service (NHS) and Government agencies about future provision during recurrence of the pandemic or similar situations in the future.

Method

Recruitment

At the time of the study, 40 patients with CLN2 disease were registered on the Batten Disease Family Association (BDFA) database, and 18 were enrolled in the MAA. BDFA members who had children in the MAA were invited by email and telephone to participate in this study, in October and November 2020. To be eligible, parents/carers had to be aged ≥ 18 years, have a child in the MAA, and be willing and able to provide informed consent to participate. The two HCPs responsible for administration of cerliponase alfa infusions at the GOSH specialist centre were also recruited.

Study design

In-depth telephone interviews were conducted by members of the advocacy team at BDFA based on a semi-structured discussion guide developed by the BDFA in collaboration with Rare Disease Research Partners (RDRP), a research organisation that specialises in rare diseases. The guide for families asked about issues affecting them during the pandemic, and their access to treatment. The guide for HCPs asked about issues affecting the specialist centre.

The interviews were conducted between 9 November and 21 December 2020. An interpreter could be made available if needed. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Responses were analysed applying an inductive thematic content approach and using the computer Qualitative Data Analysis (QDA) software NVivo. Data were aggregated and remained anonymous. No personally identifiable data were collected, and participants could decline to answer any question and could stop the interview at any point. Permission specifically to use quotes from the recordings was sought, and participants could indicate any content that could not be cited.

This research was conducted in accordance with the British Healthcare Business Intelligence Association's Legal & Ethical Guidelines for Market Research [15]. The survey study was non-interventional with subjects recruited via the patient organisation (BDFA). All participants signed a consent form.

Results

Participant characteristics

Nine of 18 families enrolled in the MAA at the time of the study took part in the interviews, representing 11 children aged 4.2–18.7 years (mean 8.9; median 8.8 years) (Table 2). This was similar to the age of the 21 children enrolled in the MAA at that time (5–18 years; mean and median 8.0 years). Ten of the children had been receiving cerliponase alfa for up to 76 months, although one had received treatment for only 1 month. One newly enrolled child was yet to receive treatment. Four children had been receiving treatment with cerliponase alfa for more than 3 years (41–76 months) and five had previously taken part in a clinical trial or expanded access programme. The families lived 7–398 km (mean 210 km) from GOSH. Seven families had one child with CLN2 disease and two families had two children with the disease. All families also had one or two children without the disorder. Further details of families are not reported to avoid potential identification.

Table 2 Background information at time of interview (n = 11 children)

Three interviews were with both parents and the rest with one parent. These interviews took 0:33–3:18 h to complete. One required an interpreter.

The two HCPs responsible for delivering cerliponase alfa at GOSH at the time of the study were also interviewed—a paediatric metabolic consultant and a clinical nurse specialist (referred to as the HCPs). Interviews with the HCPs took about 30 min.

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the MAA

The key themes describing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the MAA are presented in Table 3, with exemplar quotes from the interviews, and summarised in Fig. 2. The insights included those from one family whose child’s treatment had been delayed because of a cancelled/delayed MRI, and one who said their diagnosis had been delayed because of the cancellation of appointments.

Table 3 Families’ comments and concerns about the effect of restrictions on diagnosis and access to the MAA
Fig. 2
figure 2

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children with CLN2 disease and their families. BDFA, Batten Disease Family Association; GOSH, Great Ormond Street Hospital (London); MAA, managed access scheme

Treatment under the MAA is delivered by a small nurse-led team. Admission for surgery to implant, replace or remove the ICV device, and for administration of the infusion, was classified as an essential service following discussions between the HCPs and management at GOSH, and could therefore continue during pandemic restrictions. Additional staff were trained to administer infusions should any of the established staff become unwell or have to isolate, although in reality this was not required. The registrars within the metabolic team were redeployed to other areas, meaning that unfamiliar doctors worked with the MAA team at times.

The interviewed HCPs described the situation as “treatment as normal with extra precautions”. Two children underwent surgery (one to implant the ICV device) and no infusions were cancelled or delayed (including one child whose family were isolating); however, assessments were postponed for some patients. One HCP commented that they had not thought about the impact of the pandemic in any depth until the interview. One was proud that the team and colleagues had been able to continue the MAA, including starting two new patients on treatment.

Families reported being anxious about whether the infusion programme would continue during the pandemic and about missing or delaying an infusion because of the need to isolate (Table 3, rows 2 and 3). Some were concerned about implantation of the ICV device but were nevertheless happy that their child would receive treatment.

Two families reported that MRI scans and genetic tests were delayed by several months early in the first lockdown, delaying the diagnosis of CLN2 disease and causing concern about potential progression of their child’s condition during this time (Table 3, row 1).

Families were told by the BDFA and the MAA team that treatment would continue—by email and during hospital visits for infusions. Families reported that the main reason to continue with treatment was the potential regression of their child’s condition if they were to stop infusions, and they felt that the benefit outweighed the possible risk of infection with COVID-19. Families felt reassured by the nurses at GOSH that the environment was safe, and appreciated the extra sensitivity of the nurses to their concerns. Generally, families were relieved that treatment could continue; one described being able to receive treatment through the MAA as “comforting”.

Communication within and from the hospital

The HCPs felt they were kept well informed by GOSH, with daily briefings on COVID-19 and staffing rates, and constant updates on local and national guidelines on, for example, use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and patient access to the hospital. The HCPs also described concerted efforts by GOSH to inform families about hospital policies during lockdown. The MAA clinic team ran a webinar for parents in collaboration with the BDFA. Clinicians and the nursing team also sent regular email updates, and clinicians were available at all times to answer questions. Families reported being impressed and reassured by communications from GOSH about precautions and safety measures during access for the MAA (Table 3, row 4). Issues around communication of broader issues are described in “COVID-19 risk and shielding” section.

Safety while accessing the hospital

The HCPs reported measures implemented by GOSH to ensure the safety of staff and patients by reducing contact, such as working from home where possible, use of PPE, hand washing and social distancing. Many clinics were run by telephone or video, but some were cancelled; only a few selected patients were seen face to face. Additional safety measures at GOSH included security at doors and reminders about social distancing and to use a clean face mask on entry; trails were established to help patients navigate around the hospital.

Families described high levels of anxiety about visiting the hospital and the possible risk of coronavirus infection (Table 3, row 5) but also reported being reassured by the safety measures implemented at the hospital (Table 3, row 6).

HCPs were aware of families’ anxiety about attending hospital and the risk of contact with other people and described reassuring families that precautions were in place to protect them. Families were reassured by witnessing nurses changing their PPE and washing hands and the ‘business as usual’ attitude (Table 3, row 6). They appreciated efforts by hospital staff to minimise distress to children caused by PPE, for example by wearing patterned masks and coloured scrubs (Table 3, row 7).

A one-parent rule was implemented, meaning that only one parent could accompany a child to hospital. Families reported finding this rule challenging in terms of organizing childcare for siblings at home, being unable to leave their child with CLN2 disease while attending to other matters (such as organising reimbursement for transport), and the difficulty of managing a child in a wheelchair (Table 3, row 9). HCPs also commented on the challenges that the one-parent rule presented in terms of childcare for siblings, especially when schools were closed. They described making accommodations to the rule where physically and sensibly possible, such as for families attending for their first infusion or surgery.

Transport and accommodation

Some families travelled long distances to GOSH to receive treatment under the MAA: five travelled more than 200 km, with the longest journey of 398 km (Table 2). Families described being extremely anxious about using public transport (Table 3, row 10) and staying in overnight accommodation in order to attend GOSH for infusions (Table 3, row 11). Concerns included the risk to other family members (Table 3, row 10), the effect of potential disruptions to public transport, the risk of infection at the hospital, meeting their child’s nutritional needs while away from home, using shared facilities in patient hotels, and accessing shops (Table 3, row 11). GOSH advised families to take extra precautions against infection when travelling, to protect both themselves and the hospital staff. Families described cleaning surfaces on trains and in their rooms, and avoiding touching anything in communal areas. They acknowledged that their anxiety was worsened by travelling but that cleaning made them feel better (Table 3, row 11). One family resorted to doing the long journey from home to GOSH and back by car in one day, leaving at 3 am, rather than staying overnight. Others travelled on trains at quieter times, maintained social distance on public transport, and drove or walked in preference to using taxis.

Assessments

Whilst infusions could continue as normal, MAA-related assessments (e.g., brain scans, psychology assessments, speech and language assessments, physical assessments, eye assessments) were largely cancelled or delayed; however, it was agreed with NICE that face-to-face CLN2 scoring would continue to assess whether ERT was effective.

Impact on the care of children with CLN2 disease

Families reported broad-ranging impacts of the pandemic on the care of their children during the pandemic (Table 4), particularly the cancellation or disruption of therapy services (e.g., massage, physical activities, speech and language therapy, physiotherapy) (Table 4, row 1) and specialist schools (row 2). Several families perceived a deterioration in their child’s condition and described the difficulties of supporting their child without these services or advice from them (Table 4, row 3). Families also voiced concerns about being separated from their child/ren should they be hospitalised, and whether their child would receive adequate tailored care in hospital without a family member on hand.

Table 4 Effect of the pandemic on overall care

Some families reported anxiety about obtaining medicines, delays to prescriptions for standard medicines, being challenged about the frequency of prescriptions, and unexpected changes to formulations of some medicines.

One family with a newly diagnosed child were unable to meet their paediatrician face to face. Others reported delays in specialist appointments (cardiac studies, sleep studies, urology) and one commented on the inadequacy of an ophthalmology assessment done by telephone (Table 4, row 5). While some families found contact largely by video frustrating, others felt that it saved a lot of the stress associated with hospital visits (see Table 4, row 4). One family particularly appreciated weekly video calls organised by the BDFA for families to share their experiences.

Broader COVID-19 issues affecting families

COVID-19 risk and shielding

Information was provided/available to families from Government (e.g., via websites), local authorities, GOSH, leaflets, the media, internet, schools and video calls with other parents of children with CLN2 disease. The only specific advice families reported receiving was that children in general were less affected by COVID-19 than adults, and that vulnerable children were not at increased risk of infection. Families were also advised to stay local. Only two families reported receiving information from Government, and two sought information from the media. One respondent said they would have liked to receive personalised information from any of the services involved in the regular care of their child (besides GOSH). Families valued the parent guide to the MAA published by RDRP [9] and the availability of the BDFA’s telephone helpline. They also found social media groups useful during this time.

Families reported concerns about the risk of coronavirus infection to their child/ren and the rate at which it was spreading. They described feeling overloaded by the amount of information in the media, which was often contradictory, and families were unclear about how vulnerable their children with CLN2 disease were to the infection. One family felt that their child/ren were vulnerable because of respiratory problems and were concerned that they would not tolerate ventilation if they contracted the virus. More than half the families said they did not receive specific advice about shielding and therefore made their own decisions. The HCPs also reported that families had been confused and anxious about the Government's advice to shield that was issued after they had received a tailored letter from GOSH. The HCPs advised families who contacted them that shielding was not necessary for their children with CLN2 disease, although providing specific advice became more complicated during the tiered lockdown (see Fig. 1). Two families valued reassurance from the child’s clinician or family doctor that their child was not at increased risk, and one family said they were not any more worried about coronavirus than about infections in general.

To manage their anxiety, families reported paying less attention to the media, and adjusting to a ‘new normal’. Whilst five families adhered strictly to government guidelines, others reported weighing up the risks to the family as a whole against the benefits to their children of attending school and social contact. Some families reported feeling less frightened during the second lockdown than during the first.

COVID-19 testing

Eight children with CLN2 disease or a family member had been tested for COVID-19 at the time of the interviews but with no positive results (one family was waiting for results). Families voiced concerns about the discomfort of the test procedure, its accuracy, and the value of the result (e.g., they could become infected soon after having a test). However, one family were not concerned “given the grand scheme of things”. Families reported concern about the lack of information regarding what to do in the event of a positive test. Families were also concerned about the advice that testing was not necessary if families were isolating.

Effects on families and carers

Families described additional stress due to loss of family support systems because of travel restrictions, social distancing requirements and vulnerability of family members. A lone parent noted feeling particularly isolated. However, another family felt that little had changed as they received little support in the first place. Families described the pandemic as adding extra difficulty to a complex situation. They described feeling abandoned, isolated and alone, lacking time for self-care, and noted the return of feelings of injustice. Siblings were also affected, especially those who were required to isolate because of their vulnerable sibling, adding to their stress. Parents reported being exhausted by being their child’s sole carer: “I think it’s the childcare aspect… for me, just the hardest thing of this season is that I’ve been [name]’s main carer. [Lockdown] has made it harder to call on people for help because they’re not allowed in your home. And so, for me, personally, I’ve felt quite exhausted because there’s been no stop, no breaks. It’s full on, and I think that’s probably the hardest thing that’s been drawn out of this.”

Families felt that there was little respite in caring for their children with CLN2 disease during this time, as services were compromised by COVID-19 restrictions. One family commented on the loss of respite services, which they received for 2 h a fortnight, and two families did not get expected referrals to the hospice. Families also commented on the difficulties of managing their disabled children without support services and the disrupted access to specialist schools.

The HCPs were fully aware of the difficulty of the overall situation for families, and the emotional impact, on top of caring for a child with a severe disability, particularly on those with a new diagnosis and those starting treatment. They noted families’ anxiety around travelling, inconsistent advice about shielding/vulnerability, and attending hospital in general—which they felt applied to many families attending GOSH.

Discussion

A global survey by EURORDIS-Rare Diseases Europe of more than 5000 patients and their families representing 933 rare diseases in April 2020 found that 90% had experienced interruptions to care; almost 30% of patients who usually received care in hospitals reported that their usual hospital or unit was closed [16]. Our qualitative survey with the families of children with CLN2 disease describes marked impacts of the pandemic on access to support services and family wellbeing. This coincides with recent studies reporting on the extensive worldwide disruption that paediatric and adult patients with inherited metabolic diseases have experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic [17,18,19,20]. Our key recommendations to address these impacts in the future are presented in Box 1.

Box 1 Key recommendations

Administration of cerliponase alfa via the MAA, including surgery to implant the ICV device, was designated an essential service and therefore continued, despite widespread reductions in other services in the NHS and redeployment of staff to care for patients with COVID-19. The two HCPs reported running the service "as normal; but with extra safety precautions in place" –a commendable achievement given reports of widespread disruptions to the care of children with rare diseases, including administration of ERT [16]. The continuation of ERT with cerliponase alfa is in contrast to ERT for other lysosomal storage diseases: surveys among patients in Turkey [21], Italy [22] and Spain [23] reported disruption to hospital-based ERT, although patient anxiety about attending hospital for treatment was a major contributing factor. Reassurance from GOSH and the HCPs that families could safely visit hospital may have contributed to persistence with cerliponase alfa during the pandemic, alongside families’ determination to continue treatment despite the difficulties.

The registrars within the metabolic team were redeployed during the pandemic, meaning that unfamiliar doctors worked with the team. Given the rareness of these metabolic diseases, and the essential nature of the treatment, it is reasonable to recommend that some specialist registrars remain with the metabolic team to ensure continuity of care for children with CLN2 disease.

Patients involved in the NICE appraisal of cerliponase alfa described the emotional, physical and financial impact of CLN2 disease, especially when parents often become full-time carers [2]. These parents felt that cerliponase alfa treatment had halted the deterioration in the child/ren’s health, with immeasurable benefits on their family lives [2]. They also considered the burden of travelling to be insignificant compared with the benefits of treatment to their children [2]. The families interviewed in the current study were clearly determined to continue cerliponase alfa treatment during restrictions, despite extreme anxiety about travelling and attending hospital, as they considered that the benefits of the treatment outweighed the potential risk. They made great efforts to modify travel arrangements and felt reassured by information from HCPs and evidence of safety measures put in place by the hospital. Nevertheless, some families travelled long distances to receive treatment (up to 398 km; mean 267 km [Table 2]), as GOSH was the only specialised centre at the time. Administration at Manchester Children’s Hospital is now being set up to ease travel pressure on families.

The original conditions of remaining in the MAA included regular hospital assessments (Table 1), whereas these assessments, other than CLN2 scoring, were not conducted unless they could be done remotely. However, children remained in the MAA even though the criterion for attending hospital assessments was not met, as provision was made in the conditions for national health emergencies. CLN2 scoring and PRO measurements continued and together were used to assess the continued benefit criterion; however, insight into some of the specific effects of cerliponase alfa may have been lost.

Whilst cerliponase alfa treatment continued, children with CLN2 disease also require a wide range of support services such as physical therapies, chiropractic, massage, and speech and language therapy; however, such services were largely stopped during the pandemic. These services are often provided through specialist schools, but these were also closed. Families reported declines in their child’s function/ability without this additional support (Table 4, row 3), although they did see improvements once services resumed. Some parents received video support but felt unable to give their child as much support as a specialist school. Thus, input from professional experts was considered vital. Whether the lack of physical and support therapies has had a detrimental effect cannot yet be known. It is important that overall care requirements are considered when determining which services are essential, and that therapies that are key to patients’ physical and mental wellbeing are maintained in addition to access to medical treatment.

These effects of the pandemic on services are consistent with a recent report by the Genetic Alliance UK, based on the EURORDIS Rare Barometer Covid-19 Experience Survey and weekly community meetings during April–June 2020 [24]. That survey identified widespread disruption to services and support for patients with rare diseases: closure of units, loss of equipment seconded to care for patients with COVID-19, disrupted access to medicines, and loss of support from neighbours, family, psychological services, home care, respite care and day care. Two-thirds of the respondents reported that these changes had probably or definitely been detrimental to their wellbeing, more than half reported detrimental effects on their health, and one-fifth that changes were potentially life-threatening [24]. The Action for Rare Disease Empowerment has recently called for treatments and therapies for rare diseases that are essential for maintaining minimum health to be recognised in formal guidelines, especially if withholding such treatments may lead to irreversible impacts on health and quality of life; such treatments should not be considered ‘elective’ [25]. Thus, support services for children with CLN2 disease should be considered ‘essential’ for those who rely on them to maintain their physical health, to ensure that patients do not deteriorate. Adequate capacity and resilience within such services is vital to ensure that care can continue with staff absences. Support for patients and carers is also vital to help maintain patients’ and carers’ physical and mental health.

A key challenge for the interviewed families was understanding the vulnerability of their children with CLN2 disease. Conflicting information in the media was compounded by blanket government advice about shielding. Patients considered ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ were advised to shield and were eligible for Government and NHS support, whereas those considered ‘clinically vulnerable’ were advised to stay at home as much as possible but were dependent on family and volunteers for help [24]. However, letters from Government confirming the ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ status came late, or not at all; different sectors were covered unevenly, and people with the same condition received different advice in different parts of the country [24]. Furthermore, the reasoning behind the categorisation of conditions and risk was not clear, and decisions were changed frequently and often suddenly [24]. In line with the report by the Genetic Alliance UK, the interviewed families described confusion about whether to shield or isolate, particularly when they had school-age children or continued to work.

Patients with children with rare disease are often managed by multiple specialists and are therefore potentially at risk of receiving contradictory advice [26], as seen in our study. HCPs in the MAA reassured any families who contacted them that children with CLN2 disease were not at increased risk from COVID-19. It is therefore important that, in a future scenario like the pandemic, the risk for individuals with particular conditions is determined by appropriate experts, and that the same advice is communicated clearly and consistently to all patients with that condition. It is also important that advice considers family units rather than individual patients, addressing issues around siblings, schooling, working and caring for affected children, and the impact of shielding/isolation on the physical and mental wellbeing of families. Whilst it may not be possible to advise for all scenarios, patients and families should at least feel equipped to make informed decisions.

Families were also confused about advice around COVID-19 testing—when this was necessary, who should be tested, and how to access tests. This was a widespread issue early in the pandemic but is now resolved since widespread testing became available late in 2020. However, the situation again speaks to the need to provide coherent advice that is tailored to families with specific health issues rather than blanket advice that many people find difficult to interpret.

The one-parent rule for hospital visits caused issues for some parents in terms of childcare for siblings and when visiting the hospital. The HCPs also commented on difficulties with the rule that they witnessed but reported making some exceptions after discussion with senior hospital decision-makers, particularly for new patients on the MAA. However, this particular rule seemed to cause a lot of anxiety for parents. Whilst the rationale is understandable in terms of minimising contact, decisions such as this need to be considered in a broader context, and reviewed regularly, including weighing the potential stress and anxiety for families and children receiving treatment against the risk of infection. Use of PPE and social distancing could mitigate the risk.

A potential limitation of this study includes the use of qualitative data, which may be biased by the interviewer during data gathering or during the interpretation of the results. These issues were minimised by using a semi-structured interview guide during interviews, which were always undertaken by the same three BDFA employees. Furthermore, data were analysed using a structured computer software by a researcher who had not been involved with the interviews hence avoiding pre-conceived themes within the responses. Qualitative research is indeed useful to obtain real-world insight from the perspective of the subject rather than the researcher, particularly as open-ended questioning allows issues to be explored in detail and new ones identified [27], hence a strength from this study lies in the in-depth nature of the data reported by the families. The study was also limited by its small sample size, resulting from the rarity of CLN2 disease and the families that were enrolled in the MAA at the time. Nevertheless, although this study was small, 50% of patients participating in the MAA at the time of the study undertook the interviews, providing broad important insights into the overall management of children with CLN2 disease during the pandemic, such as the detrimental effects of closures and disruption to support services and special schools, which clinicians may not be aware of. It also identified effects on families accessing the MAA during the pandemic such as challenges and anxiety associated with travelling to GOSH and staying overnight. This insight into the effects on the family unit, rather than just the patient, is important when considering complex and severely debilitating conditions in children. A further strength of this study is the additional perspective provided by the HCPs involved in the MAA, providing insight into the challenges of continuing the MAA in a safe way and working with families to ease anxiety.

Conclusions

Administration of cerliponase alfa via the MAA was able to continue as an essential service throughout the pandemic during 2020, thanks to the advocacy and commitment of the HCPs at GOSH. While hospital visits for infusion were stressful, families were strongly motivated to continue treatment and were reassured by the safety procedures and communication about these from the HCPs at GOSH. However, loss of support services and lack of coherent advice about shielding and testing added to families’ anxiety. We therefore make the following recommendations for the future.

  • The risk and vulnerability of individual cohorts of patients (i.e., with a particular condition) should be determined as soon as possible, and by HCPs with specialist knowledge and face-to-face experience of affected patients and their families. All specialists involved in the care of the patient cohort should be consulted, to avoid contradictory advice.

  • Advice should be tailored and consistent, take into account family units, and provide adequate information to empower families to make informed decisions. Any potential confusion arising from blanket government advice should be clarified by the specialist HCPs.

  • Expert support services should be designated essential for patients whose mental and physical wellbeing is highly dependent on them and should continue running with adequate safety measures in place. If services cannot continue, parents require support and guidance to help children at home, in order to mitigate potential deterioration in their condition.

  • The one-parent rule for hospital visits should be reappraised, balancing the emotional and practical difficulties for families against the risk of infection.

Availability of data and materials

The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study are not publicly available due to patient confidentiality.

References

  1. Gardner E, Bailey M, Schulz A, Aristorena M, Miller N, Mole SE. Mutation update: Review of TPP1 gene variants associated with neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis CLN2 disease. Hum Mutat. 2019;40(11):1924–1938.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. NICE. Cerliponase alfa for treating neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 2. 2019. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/hst12.

  3. BDFA. CLN2 disease, late-infantile. 2021. http://www.bdfa-uk.org.uk/cln2-disease-late-infantile/.

  4. Williams RE, Adams HR, Blohm M, Cohen-Pfeffer JL, de Los RE, Denecke J, et al. Management strategies for CLN2 disease. Pediatr Neurol. 2017;69:102–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. European Medicines Agency. Summary of Product Characteristics. Brineura 150 mg solution for infusion. 2017 (last updated 2021). https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/brineura-epar-product-information_en.pdf

  6. European Medicines Agency. Brineura. 2017. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/brineura.

  7. Specchio N, Pietrafusa N, Trivisano M. Changing times for CLN2 disease: the era of enzyme replacement therapy. Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2020;16:213–22.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Schulz A, Ajayi T, Specchio N, de Los RE, Gissen P, Ballon D, et al. Study of intraventricular cerliponase alfa for CLN2 disease. N Engl J Med. 2018;378(20):1898–907.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. RDRP. Brineura treatment for CLN2 disease—the managed access arrangement. A guide for parents and caregivers of children with CLN2 disease. Amersham: Rare Diseases Research Partnership; 2020.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Wyrwich K, Schulz A, Nickel M, Slasor P, Ajayi T, Jacoby D, et al. An adapted clinical measurement tool for the key symptoms of CLN2 disease. J Inborn Error Metab Screen. 2018;6:1–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Institute for Government Analysis. Timeline of UK coronavirus lockdowns, March 2020 to March. https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/sites/default/files/timeline-lockdown-web.pdf.

  12. Public Health England and Department of Health and Social Care. COVID-19: guidance on protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable. 2020. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19.

  13. Gill M, Gray M. Mass testing for covid-19 in the UK (editorial). BMJ. 2020;371:m4436.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Department of Health and Social Care. Making a support bubble with another household. 2020. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/making-a-support-bubble-with-another-household#who-can-make-a-support-bubble.

  15. British Healthcare Business Intelligence Association. Legal and ethical guidelines for healthcare market research. 2020. https://www.bhbia.org.uk/.

  16. EURORDIS Rare Diseases Europe. 9 in 10 people living with a rare disease experiencing interruption in care because of COVID-19 (press release). 2020. https://download2.eurordis.org/documents/pdf/PressRelease_COVID19surveyresults.pdf.

  17. Lampe C, Dionisi-Vici C, Bellettato CM, Paneghetti L, van Lingen C, Bond S, et al. The impact of COVID-19 on rare metabolic patients and healthcare providers: results from two MetabERN surveys. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2020;15(1):341.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Tummolo A, Paterno G, Dicintio A, Stefanizzi P, Melpignano L, Aricò M. COVID-19 and inherited metabolic disorders: one-year experience of a referral center. Children. 2021;8(9):781.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Elmonem MA, Belanger-Quintana A, Bordugo A, Boruah R, Cortès-Saladelafont E, Endrakanti M, et al. The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis and management of inborn errors of metabolism: a global perspective. Mol Genet Metab. 2020;131(3):285–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Kristal E, Pode-Shakked B, Hazan G, Banne E, Ling G, David O, et al. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with lysosomal storage disorders in Israel. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2021;16(1):379.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Kahraman AB, Yildiz Y, Ciki K, Akar HT, Erdal I, Dursun A, et al. Invisible burden of COVID-19: enzyme replacement therapy disruptions. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2021;34(5):539–45.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Sechi A, Macor D, Valent S, Da Riol RM, Zanatta M, Spinelli A, et al. Impact of COVID-19 related healthcare crisis on treatments for patients with lysosomal storage disorders, the first Italian experience. Mol Genet Metab. 2020;130(3):170–1.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Andrade-Campos M, Escuder-Azuara B, de Frutos LL, Serrano-Gonzalo I, Giraldo P, Geedl, et al. Direct and indirect effects of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on Gaucher Disease patients in Spain: time to reconsider home-based therapies? Blood Cells Mol Dis. 2020;85:102478.

  24. Genetic Alliance UK. The rare reality of COVID-19. 2020. Genetic Alliance UK, London. https://covid-19.geneticalliance.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Covid-19-Rare-Reality.pdf.

  25. Action for Rare Disease Empowerment (AREDnt). Making the unseen seen: rare disease and the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. 2021. https://www.camraredisease.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/ARDEnt-Report-Making-the-Unseen-Seen-May-2021-FINAL-1.pdf.

  26. Chaplin C. Unmasked: an insight into three patients’ rare disease experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2021;16(1):88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Carr LT. The strengths and weaknesses of quantitative and qualitative research: what method for nursing? J Adv Nurs. 1994;20(4):716–21.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the families and the HCPs, Paul Gissen and Rebecca Bower, for participating in this research. We would also like to thank former BDFA employees Wendy Thompson and Cathy McSweeny for assistance undertaking the interviews, and Helen Barham PhD (The Text Doctor) for writing support.

Funding

This study was a collaboration between the BDFA and RDRP, funded by a grant from BioMarin.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

Conceptualisation and methodology [AM and SW]; interviews [BDFA]; analysis [ER]; writing, review and editing [AM, ER, SW]. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Amanda Mortensen.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Not applicable.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

ER and SW are employed by the RDRP, which supplies various professional services to BioMarin. AM is employed by the BDFA and was a trustee until December 2019. The BDFA has received grants from BioMarin for service development, support with public relations, raising awareness in the devolved nations of the UK, and a grant to support families with travel costs.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated in a credit line to the data.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Mortensen, A., Raebel, E.M. & Wiseman, S. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to the cerliponase alfa managed access agreement in England for CLN2 treatment. Orphanet J Rare Dis 17, 19 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13023-021-02147-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13023-021-02147-y

Keywords