The US FDA approved Biogen Idec's Eloctate for patients with hemophilia A. The June approval was based on data from a clinical trial that showed reduced severity and frequency of bleeding episodes. Eloctate is a recombinant factor VIII molecule attached to the Fc domain of human immunoglobulin G1, which avoids lysosomal degradation and extends the protein's half-life. Eloctate needs one injection every three to five days based on clinical response, whereas existing treatments require injections every two to four days. Biogen's other long-lasting agent Alprolix, a recombinant factor IX for hemophilia B treatment, was approved in March (Nat. Biotechnol. 32, 506, 2014). Analysts expect Eloctate to generate annual sales of $1.5 billion by 2019.
Change history
10 October 2014
In the version of this article initially published, the dosage interval for Eloctate was incorrectly listed as ten days. The correct dosage interval is every three to five days based on clinical response. The error has been corrected in the HTML and PDF versions of the article.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Long-life agent for hemophilia A. Nat Biotechnol 32, 704 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0814-704c
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0814-704c