Emicizumab
Generic name: emicizumab [ EM-a-SIZ-ue-mab ]
Brand names: Hemlibra, Hemlibra 105 mg/0.7 mL, Hemlibra 60 mg/0.4 mL
Dosage form: subcutaneous solution (150 mg/mL; 30 mg/mL)
Drug class:Miscellaneous coagulation modifiers
What is emicizumab?
Emicizumab functions in place of a natural blood-clotting factor that is missing in people with hemophilia A. Emicizumab works as a "bridge" between other clotting factors to replace missing factor VIII.
Emicizumab is for adults and children with hemophilia A, with or without factor VIII inhibitors. Emicizumab is used to help prevent bleeding episodes or make them occur less often.
Emicizumab will not stop a bleeding episode that has already begun.
Emicizumab may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Warnings
Emicizumab can cause unwanted blood clots when used together with a bypassing agent such as FEIBA. This can damage small blood vessels in your arms and legs, brain, kidneys, lungs, or other organs.
Tell your doctor if you use a bypassing agent or factor VIII. You will most likely need to stop using it the day before you begin using emicizumab.
If you use emicizumab and a bypassing agent together, call your doctor at once if you have any of these symptoms: weakness, confusion, stomach or back pain, vomiting, decreased urination, chest pain, trouble breathing, coughing up blood, swelling or redness in your arms or legs, eye pain, or vision problems.
Before taking this medicine
You should not use emicizumab if you are allergic to it.
Tell your doctor if you use factor VIII or a bypassing agent such as FEIBA (or "aPCC"; activated prothrombin complex concentrate). Emicizumab can cause unwanted blood clots when used together with aPCC. These blood clots can damage small blood vessels in your arms and legs, brain, kidneys, lungs, or other organs.
You will most likely need to stop using bypassing agents the day before you begin using emicizumab. But you may keep using factor VIII for the first week of using emicizumab.
if your doctor tells you to keep using a bypassing agent, you may need to limit your emicizumab dose to more than 100 units/kilogram per 24 hours. Follow all instructions carefully.
Follow your doctor's instructions about using emicizumab if you are pregnant. It is not known whether emicizumab will harm an unborn baby. Control of bleeding episodes is very important during pregnancy. The benefit of preventing these episodes may outweigh any risks to the baby.
If you are not pregnant, use effective
