OREANDA-NEWS. Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPG) is launching a pediatric indication for HyQvia (Human Normal Immunoglobulin (10%), Recombinant Human Hyaluronidase) across Europe. This follows the recent marketing authorisation granted by the European Commission to Baxalta, now part of Shire, in June 2016.

HyQvia is a replacement therapy to treat primary and certain secondary immunodeficiencies, a group of disorders in which part of the body's immune system is missing or does not function properly, in some cases making it more difficult to fight off infections. It is estimated that as many as six million children and adults may be affected by Primary Immunodeficiencies (PI) worldwide.

Shire is commercially introducing the new indication across the member states of Europe, starting this month with Germany, The Netherlands, Ireland, Greece, Slovakia, Denmark, Sweden and Norway.

“We are pleased to bring pediatric patients a new therapeutic option as we build on our broad immunoglobulin (IG) portfolio for patients with immune deficiencies,” said Ueli Fankhauser, Head, Global Product Strategy. “We intend to expand the availability of HyQvia to more patients in additional geographies, with the goal of reducing the treatment burden for patients worldwide.”

HyQvia was developed with a focus on addressing unmet treatment needs for patients. The treatment, which does not include proline, offers a demonstrated safety and efficacy profile (based on the pivotal study among 87 patients) as a two-part infusion combining Halozyme’s recombinant human hyaluronidase with immunoglobulin (Ig). HyQvia delivers a full dose of treatment in 1-2 infusion sites, up to once a month (up to every four weeks) for many patients, and can be self-administered at home after appropriate training. The flexibility of the treatment approach was noted by patient feedback during the pivotal study, in which 79 percent of patients and their caregivers (those <18) preferred to continue treatment with HyQvia rather than an intravenous or conventional subcutaneous treatment.

Shire (Baxter at the time) initially obtained marketing authorization for HyQvia in Europe in May 2013. The product is also licensed in the US, in Puerto Rico, and Australia, and currently under review in Brazil, Columbia, Mexico, and Argentina.

About HyQvia (Human Normal Immunoglobulin (10%), Recombinant Human Hyaluronidase) in Europe

Indication and Usage
In Europe today, HyQvia is indicated as replacement therapy in all patients in primary immunodeficiency syndromes with impaired antibody production, hypogammaglobulinaemia and recurrent bacterial infections in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), in whom prophylactic antibiotics have failed or are contra-indicated, hypogammaglobulinaemia and recurrent bacterial infections in multiple myeloma (MM) patients, hypogammaglobulinaemia in patients pre- and post-allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

Important Risk Information
HyQvia must not be used by patients with a hypersensitivity to human immunoglobulins, especially in very rare cases of IgA deficiency when the patient has antibodies against IgA. HyQvia must not be used by patients with a systemic hypersensitivity to hyaluronidase or recombinant human hyaluronidase. HyQvia must not be used by patients with a hypersensitivity to any of the excipients, including glycine.

HyQvia must not be given intravenously.

Patients should be closely monitored and carefully observed for any adverse reactions throughout the infusion period, particularly patients starting with HyQvia treatment. In case of adverse reaction, either the rate of administration must be reduced or the infusion stopped. The treatment required depends on the nature and severity of the adverse reaction.

In case of shock, standard medical treatment for shock should be implemented.
Thromboembolic events (e.g. myocardial infarction, cerebral vascular accident, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism), renal dysfunction/failure, aseptic meningitis syndrome, and hemolysis have been observed with IG 10% administered intravenously and cannot be excluded with use of HyQvia. Thrombotic events and haemolysis have also been reported in association with the subcutaneous administration of immunoglobulin products.

Human normal immunoglobulin and human serum albumin (stabilizer of the recombinant human hyaluronidase) are produced from human plasma. Standard measures to prevent infections resulting from the use of medicinal products prepared from human blood or plasma include selection of donors, screening of individual donations and plasma pools for specific markers of infection and the inclusion of effective manufacturing steps for the inactivation/removal of viruses. Despite this, when medicinal products prepared from human blood or plasma are administered, the possibility of transmitting infectious agents cannot be totally excluded. This also applies to unknown or emerging viruses and other pathogens.

About Primary Immunodeficiency

Primary immunodeficiencies (PI) are a group of more than 300 disorders in which part of the body's immune system is missing or does not function properly. Normally, the immune system protects the body from pathogenic microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, and fungi, which can cause infectious diseases. When any part of a person's immune system is absent or dysfunctional, the individuals are susceptible to infections, and it may take longer to recover from infections. When a defect in the immune system is genetically determined, it is called primary immune deficiency. It is estimated that as many as six million children and adults may be affected by PI worldwide.