hemlibra
Pharmaranks rates Hemlibra 3.5/5 for recall safety — an independent score from its FDA recall history and its manufacturer's record. Hemlibra (Emicizumab) is a medication used to treat Hemophilia A.
Emicizumab · by Genentech Inc
Based on 1 source · Recall-safety score from FDA recall history — this product's own recalls and its manufacturer's record. Not an efficacy or quality rating. methodology →
Key facts
- Active ingredient
- Emicizumab
- Form
- Injectable
- Strength
- Emicizumab 105MG/0.7ML · Emicizumab 150MG · Emicizumab 30MG/ML · Emicizumab 60MG/0.4ML
- Type
- Prescription (Rx)
- Brand or generic
- Brand-name
- May treat
- hemophilia a
- Manufacturer
- Genentech Inc
- FDA application
- BLA761083
- FDA boxed warning
- Yes — see the boxed warning
What is Hemlibra?
From the FDA label:Emicizumab-kxwh is a humanized monoclonal modified immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) bispecific antibody binding factor IXa and factor X. Emicizumab-kxwh has an approximate molecular weight of 145.6 kDa and is produced in genetically engineered mammalian (Chinese hamster ovary) cells. Emicizumab-kxwh has no structural relationship or sequence homology to FVIII and, as such, does not induce or enhance the development of direct inhibitors to FVIII. HEMLIBRA (emicizumab-kxwh) injection is a sterile, preservative-free, colorless to slightly yellow solution for subcutaneous injection supplied in single-dose vials containing emicizumab-kxwh at 12 mg/0.4 mL, 30 mg/mL, 60 mg/0.4 mL, 105 mg/0.7 mL, 150 mg/mL, or 300 mg/2 mL. Each single-dose 12 mg vial contains a 0.4 mL solution of emicizumab-kxwh (12 mg), L-arginine (10.5 mg), L-histidine (1.2 mg), and poloxamer 188 (0.2 mg), adjusted to pH 6.0 with L-aspartic acid. Each single-dose 30 mg vial contains a 1 mL solution of emicizumab-kxwh (30 mg), L-arginine (26.1 mg), L-histidine (3.1 mg), and poloxamer 188 (0.5 mg), adjusted to pH 6.0 with L-aspartic acid. Each single-dose 60 mg vial contains a 0.4 mL solution of emicizumab-kxwh (60 mg), L-arginine (10.5 mg), L-histidine (1.2 mg), and poloxamer 188 (0.2 mg), adjusted to pH 6.0 with L-aspartic acid. Each single-dose 105 mg vial contains a 0.7 mL solution of emicizumab-kxwh (105 mg), L-arginine…
How to use
Recommended loading dose is 3 mg/kg by subcutaneous injection once weekly for the first 4 weeks, followed by a maintenance dose of: 1.5 mg/kg once every week, or 3 mg/kg once every two weeks, or 6 mg/kg once every four weeks. ( 2.1 ) See Full Prescribing Information for important preparation and administration instructions. ( 2.2 ) 2.1 Recommended Dosage For subcutaneous use only. The recommended loading dose is 3 mg/kg by subcutaneous injection once weekly for the first 4 weeks, followed by a maintenance dose of: 1.5 mg/kg once every week, or 3 mg/kg once every two weeks, or 6 mg/kg once every four weeks. The selection of a maintenance dose should be based on healthcare provider preference with consideration of regimens that may increase patient adherence. Discontinue the prophylactic use of bypassing agents the day before starting HEMLIBRA prophylaxis. The prophylactic use of factor VIII (FVIII) products may be continued during the first week of HEMLIBRA prophylaxis. Missed Dose If a dose of HEMLIBRA is missed administer as soon as possible and then resume usual dosing schedule. Do not administer two doses on the same day to make up for a missed dose. 2.2 Preparation and Administration HEMLIBRA is intended for use under the guidance of a healthcare provider. After proper training in subcutaneous injection technique, a patient may self-inject, or the patient's caregiver may…
Side effects
The following serious adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling: Thrombotic Microangiopathy Associated with HEMLIBRA and aPCC [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Thromboembolism Associated with HEMLIBRA and aPCC [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 10%) are injection site reactions, headache, and arthralgia. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Genentech at 1-888-835-2555 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. The following adverse reactions are based on pooled data from two randomized trials in adult and adolescent patients (HAVEN 1 and HAVEN 3), one single-arm trial in adult and adolescent patients (HAVEN 4), one single-arm trial in pediatric patients (HAVEN 2), and one dose-finding trial, in which a total of 391 male patients with hemophilia A received at least one dose of HEMLIBRA as routine prophylaxis. Two hundred eighty-one patients (72%) were adults (18 years and older), 50 (13%) were adolescents (12 years up to less than 18 years), 55 (14%) were children (2 years up to less than 12 years),…
FDA Boxed Warning (the FDA’s most serious warning)
Boxed (black-box) warning — from the FDA label
Cases of thrombotic microangiopathy and thrombotic events were reported when on average a cumulative amount of >100 U/kg/24 hours of activated prothrombin complex concentrate was administered for 24 hours or more to patients receiving HEMLIBRA prophylaxis. Monitor for the development of thrombotic microangiopathy and thrombotic events if aPCC is administered. Discontinue aPCC and suspend dosing of HEMLIBRA if symptoms occur. WARNING: THROMBOTIC MICROANGIOPATHY and THROMBOEMBOLISM See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. Cases of thrombotic microangiopathy and thrombotic events were reported when on average a cumulative amount of >100 U/kg/24 hours of activated prothrombin complex concentrate (aPCC) was administered for 24 hours or more to patients receiving HEMLIBRA prophylaxis. Monitor for the development of thrombotic microangiopathy and thrombotic events if aPCC is administered. Discontinue aPCC and suspend dosing of HEMLIBRA if symptoms occur.
Warnings
Important safety information
Immunogenicity: Anti-emicizumab antibodies (including neutralizing antibodies) have developed in HEMLIBRA-treated patients. In case of clinical signs of loss of efficacy, promptly assess the etiology and consider a change in treatment if neutralizing antibodies are suspected. ( 5.3 , 12.6 , 14.3 ) Laboratory Coagulation Test Interference: HEMLIBRA interferes with activated clotting time (ACT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and coagulation laboratory tests based on aPTT, including one-stage aPTT-based single-factor assays, aPTT-based Activated Protein C Resistance (APC-R), and Bethesda assays (clotting-based) for factor VIII (FVIII) inhibitor titers. Intrinsic pathway clotting-based laboratory tests should not be used. ( 5.4 , 7.2 ) 5.1 Thrombotic Microangiopathy Associated with HEMLIBRA and aPCC Cases of thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) were reported from clinical trials when on average a cumulative amount of >100 U/kg/24 hours of activated prothrombin complex concentrate (aPCC) was administered for 24 hours or more to patients receiving HEMLIBRA prophylaxis. In clinical trials, thrombotic microangiopathy was reported in 0.8% of patients (3/391) and in 8.1% of patients (3/37) who received at least one dose of aPCC. Patients presented with thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, and acute kidney injury, without severe deficiencies in ADAMTS13 activity. Evidence of improvement was seen within one week following discontinuation of aPCC. One patient resumed HEMLIBRA following resolution of TMA. Consider the benefits and risks if aPCC must be used in a patient receiving HEMLIBRA prophylaxis. Due to the long half-life of HEMLIBRA, the potential for an interaction with aPCC may persist for up to 6 months after the last dose. Monitor for the development of TMA when administering aPCC. Immediately discontinue aPCC and interrupt HEMLIBRA prophylaxis if clinical symptoms and/or laboratory findings consistent with TMA occur, and manage as clinically indicated. Consider the benefits and risks of resuming HEMLIBRA prophylaxis following complete resolution of TMA on a case-by-case basis. 5.2 Thromboembolism Associated with HEMLIBRA and aPCC Thrombotic events were reported from clinical trials when on average a cumulative amount of >100 U/kg/24 hours of aPCC was administered for 24 hours or more to patients receiving HEMLIBRA prophylaxis. In clinical trials, thrombotic events were reported in 0.5% of patients (2/391) and in 5.4% of patients (2/37) who received at least one dose of aPCC. No thrombotic event required anticoagulation therapy. Evidence of improvement or resolution was seen within one month following discontinuation of aPCC. One patient resumed HEMLIBRA following resolution of thrombotic event. Consider the benefits and risks if aPCC must be used in a patient receiving HEMLIBRA prophylaxis. Due to the long half-life of HEMLIBRA, the potential for an interaction with aPCC may persist for up to 6 months after the last dose. Monitor for the development of thromboembolism when administering aPCC. Immediately discontinue aPCC and interrupt HEMLIBRA prophylaxis if clinical symptoms, imaging, or laboratory findings consistent with thromboembolism occur, and manage as clinically indicated. Consider the benefits and risks of resuming HEMLIBRA prophylaxis following complete resolution of thrombotic events on a case-by-case basis. 5.3 Immunogenicity Treatment with HEMLIBRA may induce anti-drug antibodies. Anti-emicizumab-kxwh antibodies were reported in 5.1% of patients (34/668) treated with HEMLIBRA in clinical trials. Most patients with anti-emicizumab-kxwh antibodies did not experience a change in HEMLIBRA plasma concentrations or an increase in bleeding events; however, in uncommon cases (incidence < 1%), the presence of neutralizing antibodies with decreasing plasma concentration may be associated with loss of efficacy [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.6) , Clinical Studies (14.3) ] . Monitor for clinical signs of loss of efficacy (e.g., increase in breakthrough bleeding events) and if observed, promptly assess the etiology and consider a change in treatment if neutralizing anti-emicizumab-kxwh antibodies are suspected. 5.4 Laboratory Coagulation Test Interference HEMLIBRA affects intrinsic pathway clotting-based laboratory tests, including activated clotting time (ACT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and all assays based on aPTT, such as one-stage factor VIII (FVIII) activity ( Table 1 ). Therefore, intrinsic pathway clotting-based laboratory test results in patients treated with HEMLIBRA should not be used to monitor HEMLIBRA activity, determine dosing for factor replacement or anti-coagulation, or measure FVIII inhibitor titers [see Drug Interactions (7.2) ]. Laboratory tests affected and unaffected by HEMLIBRA are shown in Table 1 . Table 1 Coagulation Test Results Affected and Unaffected by HEMLIBRA Results Affected by HEMLIBRA Results Unaffected by HEMLIBRA Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) Bethesda assays (clotting-based) for FVIII inhibitor titers One-stage, aPTT-based, single-factor assays aPTT-based Activated Protein C Resistance (APC-R) Activated clotting time (ACT) Bethesda assays (bovine chromogenic) for FVIII inhibitor titers Thrombin time (TT) One-stage, prothrombin time (PT)-based, single-factor assays Chromogenic-based single-factor assays other than FVIII For important considerations regarding FVIII chromogenic activity assays, see Drug Interactions (7.2) . Immuno-based assays (i.e., ELISA, turbidimetric methods) Genetic tests of coagulation factors (e.g., Factor V Leiden, Prothrombin 20210)
Who should not take Hemlibra
None. None ( 4 )
Interactions
7.1 Hypercoagulability with Concomitant Use of aPCC Clinical experience suggests that a drug interaction exists with HEMLIBRA and aPCC [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1 , 5.2) ] . 7.2 Drug-Laboratory Test Interactions HEMLIBRA restores the tenase cofactor activity of missing activated factor VIII (FVIIIa). Coagulation laboratory tests based on intrinsic clotting (i.e., aPTT) measure the total clotting time including time needed for activation of FVIII to FVIIIa by thrombin. Such intrinsic pathway-based tests will yield overly shortened clotting times with HEMLIBRA, which does not require activation by thrombin. The overly shortened intrinsic clotting time will then disturb all single-factor assays based on aPTT, such as the one-stage FVIII activity assay; however, single-factor assays utilizing chromogenic or immuno-based methods are unaffected by HEMLIBRA and may be used to monitor coagulation parameters during treatment, with specific considerations for FVIII chromogenic activity assays as described below. Chromogenic FVIII activity tests may be manufactured with either human or bovine coagulation proteins. Assays containing human coagulation factors are responsive to HEMLIBRA but may overestimate the clinical hemostatic potential of HEMLIBRA. In contrast, assays containing bovine coagulation factors are insensitive to HEMLIBRA (no activity measured) and can be used to monitor endogenous or infused FVIII activity, or to measure anti-FVIII inhibitors. HEMLIBRA remains active in the presence of inhibitors against FVIII, so it will produce a false-negative result in clotting-based Bethesda assays for functional inhibition of FVIII. Instead, a chromogenic Bethesda assay utilizing a bovine-based FVIII chromogenic test that is insensitive to HEMLIBRA may be used. Due to the long half-life of HEMLIBRA, effects on coagulation assays may persist for up to 6 months after the last dose [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] .
Storing Hemlibra, and how long it keeps
Quoted from this product’s own FDA label. Storage belongs to the product and its device, not to the drug in general — a pen and a tablet of the same medicine are kept completely differently.
- “Store HEMLIBRA vials in a refrigerator at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F) in the original carton to protect from light.”
May treat (source: NIH RxClass)
Dosage forms
Injectable
The forms currently marketed in the U.S., per the FDA National Drug Code Directory.
Ways to save
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Frequently asked questions
- What does Hemlibra treat?
- Hemlibra (Emicizumab) may be used to treat hemophilia a, based on NIH RxClass drug-classification data (conditions a drug may treat — not a verbatim copy of the FDA-approved label). This is general reference, not medical advice.
- How is Hemlibra rated?
- pharmaranks gives Hemlibra a composite score of 3.5 out of 5, currently based on 1 weighted source (FDA regulatory recall-safety data weighted highest). See our methodology at /how-we-rate.
- Is there a coupon or discount for Hemlibra?
- pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Hemlibra. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.
- Who makes Hemlibra?
- Hemlibra is marketed by Genentech Inc. You can see Genentech Inc's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.
- Is Hemlibra a brand-name or generic drug?
- Hemlibra is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Emicizumab.
- Is Hemlibra available over the counter?
- No. Hemlibra is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.
- What forms does Hemlibra come in?
- Hemlibra is currently marketed as injectable, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.
- Is Hemlibra FDA-registered?
- Hemlibra is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number BLA761083. You can verify this on its official FDA label.
- Has Hemlibra been recalled by the FDA?
- Hemlibra has no FDA recalls recorded under its own application in the openFDA enforcement database. Its recall-safety score reflects its manufacturer's overall recall record. This is general reference, not medical advice — check the FDA recall database for the latest alerts.
- Is Hemlibra safe?
- There's no single safe-or-not verdict. pharmaranks gives Hemlibra a recall-safety score of 70/100, based on its FDA recall history (no recalls under its own FDA application) — not an efficacy or side-effect rating. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings before use, and always consult a licensed professional.
- What are the side effects of Hemlibra?
- Hemlibra's side effects are taken directly from its FDA label. From the label: The following serious adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling: Thrombotic Microangiopathy Associated with HEMLIBRA and aPCC [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Thromboembolism Associated with HEMLIBRA and aPCC [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Most common adverse reactions (i… Both common and serious reactions are documented in full on this page. This is general reference from the FDA, not medical advice — always consult a professional.
Clinical content sourced from the FDA label via openFDA (U.S. FDA). View the FDA label on DailyMed → Provided for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional and the current prescribing information.
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hemlibra
70/100