for injection
human coagulation factor VIII / human von Willebrand factor
Immunate is a complex of coagulation factor VIII / von Willebrand factor, produced from human plasma. The coagulation factor VIII contained in Immunate replaces the missing or malfunctioning factor VIII in hemophilia A. Hemophilia A is a sex-linked, inherited bleeding disorder caused by a decrease in factor VIII levels. This leads to severe bleeding into joints, muscles, and internal organs, occurring spontaneously or as a result of accidental injuries or surgical procedures. Administration of Immunate temporarily supplements the deficiency of factor VIII and reduces the tendency to bleed. In addition to its action as a protective protein for factor VIII, von Willebrand factor (VWF) mediates the process of platelet adhesion at the site of vascular injury and plays a role in platelet aggregation.
Immunate is used for the treatment and prevention of bleeding in congenital (hemophilia A) or acquired factor VIII deficiency. Immunate is also used in the treatment of bleeding in patients with von Willebrand disease with factor VIII deficiency, if no specific effective product for von Willebrand disease is available and when treatment with desmopressin (DDAVP) is ineffective or contraindicated.
In case of allergic reactions:
When monitoring is required:
If bleeding persists:
Measures used are considered effective against enveloped viruses, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B and C, and non-enveloped hepatitis A virus. The measures used may have limited effectiveness against non-enveloped viruses, such as parvovirus B19. Parvovirus B19 infection can have serious consequences for pregnant women (fetal infection) and patients with immune deficiencies or certain types of anemia (e.g., congenital spherocytosis or hemolytic anemia). In the case of regular or repeated administration of factor VIII products derived from human plasma, the doctor may recommend vaccinations against hepatitis A and B. It is particularly recommended that when administering Immunate to a patient, the product name and batch number should be recorded to maintain a record of the batch used. Immunate contains blood group isoagglutinins (anti-A and anti-B). In patients with blood group A, B, or AB, hemolysis may occur due to repeated administration in a short period or administration of very large doses.
The product should be used with caution in children under 6 years of age who have been limitedly exposed to factor VIII products, as clinical data on this patient group are limited.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all medicines you are taking, have recently taken, or might take. No interactions with other medicines have been reported for Immunate. Immunate should not be mixed with other medicines or solvents before administration, except for the supplied water for injection, as they may negatively affect the product's efficacy and safety. It is recommended to flush the established venous access with an appropriate solution, e.g., saline solution, before and after administering Immunate.
There are no special recommendations regarding the administration of Immunate with respect to meals.
Since hemophilia A is rare in women, there is limited experience with the use of Immunate during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and fertility. Immunate should be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding only if justified. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before using this medicine.
There is no information on the effect of Immunate on the ability to drive and use machines.
The medicine contains 9.8 mg of sodium (the main component of common salt) per vial. This corresponds to 0.5% of the maximum recommended sodium intake in the diet for adults.
This medicine should always be used as directed by your doctor. If you are unsure, consult your doctor.
If Immunate is used for prophylaxis of bleeding, the dose will be calculated by the doctor, taking into account the individual needs of the patient. The usual dose is between 20 and 40 IU of factor VIII per kilogram of body weight, administered at intervals of 2-3 days. However, in some cases, especially in younger patients, shorter intervals between doses or higher doses may be necessary. If you feel that the effect of Immunate is too weak, consult your doctor.
If Immunate is used for the treatment of bleeding, the dose will be calculated by the doctor, taking into account the individual needs of the patient. If you feel that the effect of Immunate is too weak, consult your doctor.
To ensure that factor VIII levels are adequate, the doctor will perform appropriate laboratory tests. This is especially important for major surgical procedures.
The doctor will control bleeding according to the guidelines for hemophilia A.
Immunate is administered intravenously after preparation of the solution using the supplied solvent. Follow the doctor's instructions. Only use the infusion set provided in the package, as adsorption of human coagulation factor VIII to the inner surfaces of some infusion sets may lead to treatment failure. Immunate should be dissolved immediately before administration. The solution should be used immediately, as it does not contain preservatives.
Use the provided filter set to prevent the administration of rubber particles from the stopper with the product (risk of microembolism). To draw up the dissolved product, attach the filter set to the supplied syringe and insert it through the rubber stopper (Fig. E). For a moment, detach the syringe from the filter set. Air will enter the powder vial, and any foam inside will settle. Through the filter set (Fig. F), draw the solution into the syringe. Detach the syringe from the filter set and slowly inject the solution intravenously (maximum injection rate: 2 ml per minute) using the supplied infusion set - butterfly needle (or the supplied single-use needle).
Fig. A
Fig. B
Fig. C
Fig. D
Fig. E
Fig. F
Any unused medicinal product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements. Administration of Immunate should be documented, and the batch number recorded. A detachable label is provided with each vial, which should be attached to the patient's documentation.
The doctor will inform you how often and at what intervals you should take Immunate. This will be determined based on the effectiveness of the treatment for each individual patient.
Replacement therapy with Immunate is usually used for life.
Do not stop using Immunate without consulting your doctor. If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor.
Like all medicines, Immunate can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Rarely, allergic reactions have been observed, which in some cases have led to severe and life-threatening reactions (anaphylaxis). Therefore, you should be familiar with the early symptoms of allergic reactions, such as sudden facial flushing, rash, hives, itching, swelling of the lips and tongue, difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest pain, feeling of compression in the chest, general malaise, dizziness, rapid heartbeat, and low blood pressure. These symptoms may be early signs of anaphylactic shock, which can also include severe dizziness, loss of consciousness, and severe breathing difficulties. In case of any allergic reaction or anaphylaxis, the injection/infusion should be stopped immediately, and a doctor should be consulted. Severe symptoms require immediate treatment as in emergency cases. In children not previously treated with factor VIII products, inhibitory antibodies (see section 2) may develop very frequently (more than 1 in 10 patients). However, in patients who have been previously treated with factor VIII (treatment for more than 150 days), the risk is not very common (less than 1 in 100 patients). If this happens, the patient's medicines may stop working properly, and the patient may experience persistent bleeding. If this happens, you should contact your doctor immediately. The formation of neutralizing antibodies against von Willebrand factor is a known complication of treatment in patients with von Willebrand disease. If neutralizing antibodies (inhibitors) develop, this may result in an insufficient clinical response to treatment (bleeding is not controlled with the proper dose) or as an allergic reaction. In such cases, it is recommended to contact a specialized hemophilia treatment center. After administration of large doses, hemolysis may occur in patients with blood group A, B, or AB.
If you experience any side effects, including any not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist. Side effects can be reported directly to the Department of Drug Safety Monitoring of the Office for Registration of Medicinal Products, Medical Devices, and Biocidal Products Al. Jerozolimskie 181 C 02-222 Warsaw Tel.: + 48 22 49 21 301 Fax: + 48 22 49 21 309 Website: https://smz.ezdrowie.gov.pl Side effects can also be reported to the marketing authorization holder. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Keep out of the sight and reach of children. Store and transport in a cool place (2°C – 8°C). Do not freeze. Store in the original package to protect from light. Do not use this medicine after the expiry date stated on the label and carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of the month stated. Within the shelf-life, the product can be stored at room temperature (up to 25°C) for a single period not exceeding 6 months. Note the start date of storage at room temperature on the package. After storage at room temperature, Immunate should not be refrigerated again but used immediately or discarded. Do not use this medicine if the prepared solution is cloudy or contains sediment. Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. This will help protect the environment.
Powder:
Solvent:
Powder and solvent for solution for injection. White or pale yellow powder or brittle, crystalline mass. The powder and solvent are available in single-dose glass vials, Ph. Eur. (powder: type II glass; solvent: type I glass), closed with butyl rubber stoppers, Ph. Eur. Each pack contains: 1 vial of Immunate 500 IU FVIII/ 375 IU VWF 1 vial of water for injection (5 ml) 1 transfer device or filter set 1 single-use syringe (5 ml) 1 single-use needle 1 infusion set (butterfly needle). Pack size: 1 x 500 IU FVIII/ 375 IU VWF
Takeda Pharma Sp. z o.o. ul. Prosta 68 00-838 Warsaw
Takeda Manufacturing Austria AG Industriestrasse 67 1221 Vienna Austria
Immunate: Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden Immunate Stim Plus: Czech Republic Immunate S/D: Hungary Talate: Italy Date of last revision of the leaflet:12/2021 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Information intended for healthcare professionals only: Dosing in hemophilia AThe dose and duration of substitution therapy depend on the severity of the factor VIII deficiency, the location and extent of the bleeding, and the patient's clinical condition. The administered dose of factor VIII is expressed in international units (IU), referring to the current WHO standard for factor VIII products. Factor VIII activity in plasma is expressed as a percentage (relative to normal human plasma) or in IU (relative to the International Standard for plasma factor VIII). One international unit (IU) of factor VIII activity corresponds to the amount of factor VIII in one milliliter of normal human plasma. The required dose of factor VIII is calculated based on empirical observations that 1 IU of factor VIII per kg of body weight increases the factor VIII activity in plasma by approximately 2% of normal activity. The required dose is calculated using the following formula:
Administration and frequency should always be based on the clinical response in each individual case (see section 4.4). In some cases, especially in younger patients, shorter intervals between doses or higher doses may be necessary. Bleeding and surgical proceduresIn the following types of bleeding, factor VIII activity at the appropriate time should not fall below the specified level of activity in plasma (% of normal or IU/dl). When determining the dose based on the type of bleeding and surgical procedure, the following table can be used:
Bleeding severity / type of surgical procedure | Required factor VIII level (% of normal) (IU/dl) | Dosing frequency (hours) / treatment duration (days) |
Bleeding Early bleeding into joints, muscles, or oral bleeding More severe bleeding into joints, muscles, or hematoma Life-threatening bleeding | 20–40 30–60 60–100 | Repeat every 12–24 hours. At least 1 day, until bleeding stops, as assessed by pain relief or wound healing. Repeat infusions every 12–24 hours for 3–4 days or more, until pain and acute disability subside. Repeat infusions every 8–24 hours, until the risk subsides. |
Surgical procedures Minor, including tooth extraction Major | 30–60 80–100 (pre- and post-operative) | Every 24 hours, for at least 1 day, until wound healing. Repeat infusions every 8–24 hours, to achieve adequate wound healing, then continue treatment for at least 7 consecutive days, to maintain factor VIII activity at 30–60% (IU/dl). |
In certain circumstances (e.g., in the presence of low-titer inhibitors), higher doses than calculated may be required. Long-term prophylaxisIn long-term prophylaxis of bleeding in patients with severe hemophilia A, the usual doses of factor VIII are 20–40 IU per kilogram of body weight, administered at intervals of 2–3 days. In some cases, especially in younger patients, shorter intervals between doses or higher doses may be necessary. Dosing in von Willebrand diseaseSubstitution therapy with Immunate to control bleeding is based on the guidelines for hemophilia A. Immunate contains a relatively high amount of factor VIII compared to von Willebrand factor, so the treating physician should be aware that continued treatment may lead to excessive increase in FVIII:C, which may increase the risk of thromboembolic events. Children and adolescentsThe product should be used with caution in children under 6 years of age who have been limitedly exposed to factor VIII products, as clinical data on this patient group are limited. Dosing in hemophilia A in children and adolescents under 18 years of age is based on body weight, and therefore usually follows the same guidelines as for adult patients. The dose and frequency of administration should always be based on the clinical response in each individual case (see section 4.4). In some cases, especially in younger patients, shorter intervals between doses or higher doses may be necessary.
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