Rabies Prophylaxis Approved by the FDA

Article

A human plasma-derived immunoglobulin, the rabies immune globulin (KEDRAB) will be launched by creator Kamada Ltd. and Kedrion Biopharma in the US in early 2018.

A post-exposure prophylaxis for rabies infection has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

A human plasma-derived immunoglobulin (HRIG), the rabies immune globulin (KEDRAB) will be launched by creator Kamada Ltd. and Kedrion Biopharma in the US in early 2018.

KEDRAB's efficacy as a rabies treatment was measured in a single-center, randomized, comparator HRIG-controlled clinical study of 118 adult patients without any significant acute or chronic illnesses. Patients were split evenly (59) between treatment and control groups, receiving doses of Kedrab or HRIG at 20 lU/kg intramuscularly at the trial's beginning, then rabies vaccine on Days 0,3,7,14, and 28.

Efficacy analyses were performed on the treated population, which comprised the 116 study subjects who received KEDRAB or comparator HRIG and at least 3 of the 5 doses of rabies vaccine before Day 14. Adverse reactions in KEDRAB patients included injection site pain and headaches, among others.

Rabies currently affects about 40,000 people in the US annually. KEDRAB is advised for use promptly after contact with a rabid or possibly rabid animal, concurrently with a full course of rabies vaccine.

KEDRAB is not Kamada's first venture into treatements suitable for the deadly, but preventable rabies. An HRIG product called KamRAB has been marketed outside of the US for more than a decade. The most recently approved HRIG is a notable milestone for the company's venture into the US market, though.

"The approval of KEDRAB represents the first product that Kedrion Biopharma has had a role in developing throughout its clinical development and through to commercialization in the US," Paolo Marcucci, president and chief executive officer of Kedrion, said. "As Kedrion Biopharma is one of the world’s leading suppliers of high-titer rabies plasma, we are well-positioned to maximize the potential of this product, and we look forward to working with Kamada to launch KEDRAB in the US.”

Kamada chief executive officer Amir London said the treatment respresents an "an annual market opportunity of over $100 million in the US."

"Moreover, this has the potential to be a highly profitable product for our companies," London said. "Meaningful sales from KEDRAB areexpected to ramp up in 2018, during its first full year of launch."

A press release regarding the approval was made available.

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