Update of Summary of Product Characteristics for Nuwiq® includes data on effective bleed protection with twice-weekly dosing with personalised prophylaxis

Octapharma announced today that the European Medicines Agency has authorised an updated Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) for Nuwiq® that includes information on personalised prophylaxis in patients with haemophilia A. The updated SmPC can be accessed at https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/nuwiq

The new information in the updated SmPC is based on data from the NuPreviq study in which 66 previously treated adult patients were switched from a 1 to 3-month standard prophylaxis regimen to a 6-month personalised regimen based on their individual pharmacokinetic (PK) characteristics. Of the 66 patients reported in the study, 44 patients switched to a different prophylaxis regimen after PK assessment. Of these, 40 completed the 6 months of prophylaxis according to the assigned dosing and treatment scheme, and 34 patients (85%) were treated twice weekly or even less frequently. The mean annualised bleeding rate among the 40 patients was 1.2 ± 3.9, 90% of patients experienced no spontaneous bleeds, and 83% had no bleeds of any type. The mean ± SD dose was 52.2 ± 12.2 IU/kg per injection (99.7 ± 25.6 IU/kg per week), and there were no treatment-related adverse events.

Larisa Belyanskaya, Head of Octapharma’s IBU Haematology commented “we at Octapharma are delighted with the NuPreviq results and the update to the Nuwiq® Summary of Product Characteristics. The data show that personalised prophylaxis with Nuwiq® may enable twice weekly or less frequent dosing while maintaining effective bleed protection”.

Olaf Walter, Board Member at Octapharma, added “Understanding the benefits of using pharmacokinetic data to guide treatment will help further personalise the care of people with haemophilia A and we are proud to be driving efforts to achieve this important goal”.

About Octapharma

The vision of Octapharma is: “Our passion drives us to provide new health solutions advancing human life”. Headquartered in Lachen, Switzerland, Octapharma is one of the largest human protein manufacturers in the world, developing and producing human proteins from human plasma and human cell lines. As a family-owned company, Octapharma believes in investing to make a difference in people’s lives and has been doing so since 1983; because it’s in our blood. Our company values are Ownership, Integrity, Leadership, Sustainability and Entrepreneurship.

In 2018, the Group achieved €1.8 billion in revenue, an operating income of €346 million and invested €240 million into R&D and in capital expenditures in order to ensure future prosperity. Octapharma employs 8,314 people worldwide to support the treatment of patients in 115 countries with products across three therapeutic areas:

• Haematology (coagulation disorders)

• Immunotherapy (immune disorders)

• Critical Care

Octapharma owns state-of-the-art production facilities in Austria, France, Germany, Sweden and Mexico.

About Haemophilia A

Haemophilia A is an X-linked hereditary bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency of factor VIII (FVIII) which, if left untreated, leads to haemorrhages in muscles and joints and consequently to arthropathy and severe morbidity. The disorder affects around one in every 10,000 males worldwide. Prophylaxis with replacement FVIII therapy reduces the number of bleeding episodes and the risk of permanent joint damage.

About Nuwiq®

Nuwiq® (simoctocog alfa) is a 4th generation recombinant factor VIII (rFVIII) protein, produced in a human cell line without chemical modification or fusion with any other protein.1 Nuwiq® is cultured without additives of human or animal origin, is devoid of antigenic non-human protein epitopes and has a high affinity for the von Willebrand coagulation factor.1 Nuwiq® treatment has been assessed in seven completed clinical trials which included 201 previously treated patients (PTPs; 190 individuals) with severe haemophilia A, including 59 children.1 Nuwiq® is approved for use in the treatment and prophylaxis of bleeding in patients with haemophilia A (congenital factor VIII deficiency) across all age groups.2 Nuwiq® is available in 250 IU, 500 IU, 1000 IU, 2000 IU , 2500 IU, 3000 IU and 4000 IU presentations with all vial strengths in a 2.5 mL infusion volume and supplied with a pre-filled syringe.2

1.    Lissitchkov T et al. Ther Adv Hematol 2019; doi: 10.1177/2040620719858471.

2.    Nuwiq® Summary of Product Characteristics.

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