Journal Name
European Journal of Haematology
Original Publication Date
Full Article on PubMed
Ravulizumab every 8 weeks showed non-inferiority to
eculizumab
eculizumab:
Eculizumab (Soliris ®) is given as an IV into a vein at the doctor’s office or at a special center. The procedure usually takes about 35 minutes. You will probably get an IV once a week for the first 4 weeks. Starting in the 5th week, you will get a slightly higher dose of Soliris every 2 weeks.
…
every 2 weeks in a 26-week, phase 3, randomized controlled trial in adults with
paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria:
(par-uk-SIZ-muhl nok-TURN-uhl hee-muh-gloe-buh-NYOOR-ee-uh) A rare and serious blood disease that causes red blood cells to break apart. Paroxysmal means sudden and irregular. Nocturnal means at night. Hemoglobinuria means hemoglobin in the urine. Hemoglobin is the red part of red blood cells. A…
(PNH) who were clinically stable on eculizumab (NCT03056040). We report results from the first 26 weeks of the extension period in which patients continued ravulizumab (n = 96) or switched from eculizumab to ravulizumab (n = 95). At week 52, mean (SD)
lactate dehydrogenase
lactate dehydrogenase:
(LAK-tate dee-high-DROJ-uh-nase) An enzyme found in the blood and in many of the body's organs. High levels of LDH in the blood can mean that red blood cells are breaking apart (hemolysis) or that there is tissue damage in the body. It is important for patients with paroxysmal nocturnal…
levels increased 8.8% (29%) with ravulizumab-ravulizumab and 5.8% (27%) with eculizumab-ravulizumab from primary evaluation period baseline. During the extension period, four patients (ravulizumab-ravulizumab, n = 3; eculizumab-ravulizumab, n = 1) experienced breakthrough
hemolysis
hemolysis:
(hi-MOL-uh-suss) The destruction of red blood cells.
, but none associated with serum-free C5 ≥ 0.5 μg/mL. Mean Functional Assessment of
Chronic Illness
Chronic Illness:
A medical condition that lasts a long time. A chronic illness can affect a person's lifestyle, ability to work, physical abilities and independence.
Therapy (FACIT)-Fatigue scores remained stable through week 52. During the extension period, proportions of patients avoiding transfusion remained stable (ravulizumab-ravulizumab, 86.5%; eculizumab-ravulizumab, 83.2%); 81.2% and 81.1%, respectively, had stabilized
hemoglobin
hemoglobin:
A protein in the red blood cells. Hemoglobin picks up oxygen in the lungs and brings it to cells in all parts of the body.
. All patients maintained serum-free C5 levels < 0.5 μg/mL. Adverse events were generally similar between groups, and rates were lower in the extension period. Adults with PNH on stable eculizumab therapy who received ravulizumab over 52 weeks experienced durable efficacy, with consistent efficacy in patients who received eculizumab during the primary evaluation period and then switched to ravulizumab. Ravulizumab was well tolerated.
