3 Hematology Headlines You Missed in September 2026

Hematology news in September 2026 included new diagnostic thresholds for iron deficiency, a closer look at the expanded approval of marstacimab in hemophilia A and B, and expert perspective on choosing between curative therapies in sickle cell disease.

The American Society of Hematology (ASH) raised the serum ferritin thresholds used to diagnose iron deficiency, a change that may identify patients who previously fell just above diagnostic cutoffs, including those without anemia.

In hemophilia, coverage examined what the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s expansion of marstacimab (Hympavzi) to younger children and patients with inhibitors means for clinical practice.

For sickle cell disease, the choice between allogeneic stem cell transplant and gene therapy often comes down to timing, since gene therapy manufacturing can take 9 to 12 months, a delay that may not suit patients who need treatment sooner.

Regulatory and Guidelines

ASH Issues New Ferritin Thresholds for Iron Deficiency Diagnosis

ASH issued guidelines in Blood Advances raising the serum ferritin thresholds for diagnosing iron deficiency. The new cutoffs are 20 ng/mL or less for children aged 9 months to 4 years; 30 ng/mL or less for adults, including those who are menstruating or pregnant; 50 ng/mL or less for those with heavy menstrual bleeding or anemia in pregnancy; and less than 100 ng/mL or transferrin saturation below 20% for adults with inflammation. Treatment guidance is expected in 2027.

FAQ: What the Expanded Marstacimab Approval Means for Hemophilia A, B

On June 8, 2026, the FDA expanded the approval of marstacimab (Hympavzi), an anti-tissue factor pathway inhibitor antibody, to children aged 6 to 11 years and to patients aged 12 years and older with factor inhibitors, in both hemophilia A and B. This FAQ covers what the expansion means for clinicians and the BASIS trial data supporting it.

Expert Perspective

The 9-to-12-Month Decision in Curative Sickle Cell Care

Stacey Rifkin Zenenberg, DO, of Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center, explains how clinicians choose between curative options in sickle cell disease. She covers matched-sibling transplant as the standard when a donor is available, autologous gene therapy for patients without a match, and why gene therapy's 9- to 12-month timeline may lead clinicians to choose allogeneic transplant for patients who are more critically ill.