Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (publ) (Sobi) announced that the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products, Swissmedic, has approved Alprolix (eftrenonacog alfa) for the treatment of haemophilia B. Alprolix is the only recombinant factor IX Fc Fusion protein therapy approved in Switzerland for the treatment of haemophilia B.
“The Swiss approval of Alprolix is an important milestone for the haemophilia community, offering the opportunity for people with haemophilia B to experience prolonged protection from bleeds,” said Krassimir Mitchev, M.D., Ph.D., vice president and medical therapeutic area head of Haemophilia at Sobi. “We will now focus on ensuring timely and sustainable access to Alprolix in Switzerland.”
Alprolix is indicated for both on-demand and prophylaxis treatment of previously treated haemophilia B patients. For initiation of prophylaxis one dose every seven days or every 10 days can be administered, with the ability to adjust the dosing interval based on individual response.
Haemophilia is a rare, genetic disorder in which the ability of a person's blood to clot is impaired. Haemophilia B occurs in about one in 25,000 male births annually, and more rarely in females. The World Federation of Haemophilia estimates that approximately 28,000 people are currently diagnosed with haemophilia B worldwide.
People with haemophilia B experience bleeding episodes that can cause pain, irreversible joint damage and life-threatening haemorrhages. Prophylactic infusions of factor IX can temporarily replace the clotting factor needed to control bleeding and prevent new bleeding episodes. The World Federation of Hemophilia recommends prophylaxis as the optimal therapy as it can prevent bleedings and joint destruction.
Alprolix (eftrenonacog alfa) is a recombinant clotting factor therapy developed for haemophilia B by fusing factor IX to the Fc portion of immunoglobulin G subclass 1, or IgG1 (a protein commonly found in the body). This enables Alprolix to use a naturally occurring pathway to prolong the time the therapy remains in the body. While Fc fusion technology has been used for more than 15 years, Sobi and Biogen are the first companies to utilise it in the treatment of haemophilia.
Alprolix is currently approved for the treatment of haemophilia B in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, as well as the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and other countries. As with any factor replacement therapy, allergic-type hypersensitivity reactions and development of inhibitors may occur following administration of Alprolix.
Sobi and Biogen collaborated on the development and commercialisation of Elocta/Eloctate and Alprolix. Sobi has final development and commercialisation rights of Elocta and Alprolix in the Sobi territory (essentially Europe, North Africa, Russia and most Middle Eastern markets). Biogen has manufacturing responsibility for Eloctate and Alprolix and has final development and commercialisation rights in North America and all other regions in the world excluding the Sobi territory.