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Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics: The factor VIII/von Willebrand factor complex consists of two molecules (factor VIII and von Willebrand factor) with different physiological functions. When infused into a haemophiliac patient, factor VIII binds to von Willebrand factor in the patient's circulation. Activated factor VIII acts as a cofactor for activated factor IX, accelerating the conversion of factor X to activated factor X. Activated factor X converts prothrombin into thrombin. Thrombin then converts fibrinogen into fibrin and a clot can be formed. Haemophilia A is a sex-linked hereditary disorder of blood coagulation due to decreased levels of factor VIII:C and results in profuse bleeding into joints, muscles or internal organs, either spontaneously or as results of accidental or surgical trauma. By replacement therapy the plasma levels of factor VIII are increased, thereby temporarily enabling a correction of the factor VIII deficiency and correction of the bleeding tendencies.
The immunogenicity of Nuwiq was evaluated in clinical trials in 190 previously treated patients with severe haemophilia A (129 adult and 61 paediatric patients). None of the patients developed inhibitors.
Adult and adolescent population 12 - 65 years of age: Prophylaxis: In a clinical study in 32 adult patients with severe haemophilia A, the median consumption of Nuwiq for prophylaxis was 468.7 IU/kg/month.
Treatment of bleeding: The median dose to treat break-through bleeding episodes was 33.0 IU/kg in these patients who were on prophylaxis. In another clinical study, 22 adult patients were treated on demand. In total 986 bleeding episodes were treated with a median dose of 30.9 IU/kg. In general, minor bleeds required slightly lower, and more severe bleeds required up to three-fold higher median doses.
Individualised prophylaxis: Individualised PK-based prophylaxis was evaluated in 66 adult PTPs with severe haemophilia A. Following a 1-3 month standard prophylaxis phase (every other day or 3 times weekly dosing), 44 (67%) patients were switched to a dosing regimen based on their PK assessment, and 40 completed the 6 months of prophylaxis according to the assigned dosing and treatment scheme. Of these patients, 34 (85%) were treated twice weekly or less. 33 (82.5%) patients did not experience any bleeds and 36 (90.0%) patients had no spontaneous bleeds. The mean ± SD annualised bleeding rate was 1.2 ± 3.9 and the mean ± SD dose were 52.2 ± 12.2 IU/kg per injection and 99.7 ± 25.6 IU/kg per week.
Of note, annualised bleeding rate (ABR) is not comparable between different factor concentrates and between different clinical studies.
Paediatric population: Data have been obtained in 29 previously treated children between 2 and 5 years of age, 31 children between 6 and 12 years of age and one adolescent of 14 years. The median dose per prophylactic infusion was 37.8 IU/kg. Twenty patients used median doses of more than 45 IU/kg. The median consumption of Nuwiq for prophylaxis per month was 521.9 IU/kg. A higher median dose of Nuwiq was required to treat bleedings in children (43.9 IU/kg) than in adults (33.0 IU/kg), and a higher median dose was required to treat moderate to major than minor bleedings (78.2 IU/kg vs. 41.7 IU/kg). Younger children in general required higher median doses (6-12 years: 43.9 IU/kg; 2-5 years: 52.6 IU/kg). These data were corroborated by a long-term follow-up of 49 of these children who were treated for an additional median period of approximately 30 months (range from 9.5 to 52 months); during this period 45% of children had no spontaneous bleeds.
Pharmacokinetics: Adult population: (See Tables 1, 2 and 3.)
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Click on icon to see table/diagram/image
Click on icon to see table/diagram/imagePaediatric population: As known from the literature, recovery and half-life was lower in young children than in adults and clearance higher, which may be due in part to the known higher plasma volume per kilogram body weight in younger patients.
Weight adjusted subgroups: (See Table 4.)
Click on icon to see table/diagram/imageToxicology: Preclinical safety data: In preclinical studies, Nuwiq was used to safely and effectively restore haemostasis in dogs with haemophilia. Toxicology studies showed that local intravenous administration and systemic exposure were well tolerated in laboratory animals (rats and cynomolgus monkeys).
Specific studies with long-term repeated administration such as reproduction toxicity, chronic toxicity, and carcinogenicity were not performed with Nuwiq due to the immune response to heterologous proteins in all non-human mammalian species.
No studies were performed on the mutagenic potential of Nuwiq.
Ex vivo evaluations using a commercial assay kit to quantify T cell response to protein therapeutics indicate a low risk of immunogenicity.
