NUWIQ POWDER AND SOLVENT FOR SOLUTION FOR INJECTION 250 IU [SIN15920P]

Product Info

NUWIQ POWDER AND SOLVENT FOR SOLUTION FOR INJECTION 250 IU

[SIN15920P]

4.1 Therapeutic indications

Treatment and prophylaxis of bleeding in patients with haemophilia A (congenital factor VIII deficiency).
Nuwiq can be used for all age groups.
Nuwiq does not contain Willebrand factor and is not indicated in von Willebrand disease.

4.2 Posology and method of administration

Treatment should be under the supervision of a physician experienced in the treatment of haemophilia.

Treatment monitoring
During the course of treatment, appropriate determination of factor VIII levels is advised to guide the dose to be administered and the frequency of repeated infusions. Individual patients may vary in their response to factor VIII, demonstrating different half-lives and recoveries. Dose based on bodyweight may require adjustment in underweight or overweight patients. In the case of major surgical interventions in particular, precise monitoring of the substitution therapy by means of coagulation analysis (plasma factor VIII activity) is indispensable.

When using an in vitro thromboplastin time (aPTT)-based one stage clotting assay for determining factor VIII activity in patients’ blood samples, plasma factor VIII activity results can be significantly affected by both the type of aPTT reagent and the reference standard used in the assay. Also there can be significant discrepancies between assay results obtained by aPTT-based one stage clotting assay and the chromogenic assay according to Ph. Eur. This is of importance particularly when changing the laboratory and/or reagents used in the assay.

Posology
The dose and duration of the substitution therapy depend on the severity of the factor VIII deficiency, on the location and extent of the bleeding and on the patient’s clinical condition.

The number of units of factor VIII administered is expressed in International Units (IU), which is related to the current WHO concentrate standard for factor VIII products. Factor VIII activity in plasma is expressed either as a percentage (relative to normal human plasma) or preferably in International Units (relative to an International Standard for factor VIII in plasma).

One International Unit (IU) of factor VIII activity is equivalent to the quantity of factor VIII in one ml of normal human plasma.

On-demand treatment
The calculation of the required dose of factor VIII is based on the empirical finding that 1 International Unit (IU) factor VIII per kg body weight raises the plasma factor VIII activity by approximately 2% of normal activity or 2 international units/dl. The required dose is determined using the following formula:

The amount to be administered and the frequency of administration should always be oriented to the clinical effectiveness in the individual case.

In the case of the following haemorrhagic events, factor VIII activity should not fall below the given plasma activity level (in % of normal or international units/dl) in the corresponding period. The following table can be used to guide dosing in bleeding episodes and surgery.

Prophylaxis
For long-term prophylaxis against bleeding in patients with severe haemophilia A, the usual doses are 20 to 40 international units of factor VIII per kg body weight at intervals of 2 to 3 days.
In some cases, especially in younger patients, shorter dosage intervals or higher doses may be necessary.

Paediatric population
The posology is the same in adults and children, however, shorter dose intervals or higher doses may be necessary for children. Currently available data are described in sections 4.8, 5.1 and 5.2 – please refer to the Product Insert/Patient Information Leaflet published on HSA for the full drug information.

Method of administration
Nuwiq is for intravenous use.
It is recommended that not more than 4 ml per minute be administered.

For instructions on reconstitution of the medicinal product before administration, see section 6.6 – please refer to the Product Insert/Patient Information Leaflet published on HSA for the full drug information.

4.3 Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1 – please refer to the Product Insert/Patient Information Leaflet published on HSA for the full drug information.