How does Hemlibra work?
Antibodies are proteins made by the body that stick to substances (antigens). Antibodies can be important in fighting infection. However, they can also be designed to bind to specific substances to manage diseases; these are called monoclonal antibodies.
Hemlibra is a monoclonal antibody designed to help prevent bleeding in people with severe haemophilia A and moderate haemophilia A with a severe bleeding phenotype.
- Hemlibra is a bispecific antibody, meaning it can bind to two different substances
- Hemlibra binds to factor IXa and factor X. This forms a link so the clotting pathway can continue
- Hemlibra is not the same as factor VIII replacement therapy, so it is not thought that factor VIII inhibitors will affect Hemlibra
Hemlibra creates a bridge
Haemophilia A treatments
Taking Hemlibra regularly maintains a consistent level in your blood.
After the initial loading dose, blood levels of Hemlibra remain stable between doses, whether you are taking your ongoing dose once every week, every 2 weeks, or every 4 weeks.
This means that you do not need to take additional doses of Hemlibra to cover any planned physical activity.
The level of bypassing agent therapy falls following administration, meaning repeat doses may be required to manage bleeds.
This example shows the peaks and troughs in recombinant factor VIIa therapy with repeat doses.
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