Ecallantide as an effective and safe treatment for acute attacks of HAE

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a genetic disorder resulting from low levels of C1-inhibitor activity that manifests as acute attacks of variable and sometimes life-threatening edema. Ecallantide is a novel potent inhibitor of human plasma kallikrein, a key mediator of the excessive formation of bradykinin associated with the signs and symptoms of an HAE attack.

New therapies for hereditary angioedema (HAE) (click to enlarge the image).

In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 96 patients with a moderate to severe HAE attack were randomized to receive 30 mg of subcutaneous ecallantide or placebo.

Mean change from baseline in symptom complex severity score 4 hours after dosing was significantly greater with ecallantide use (-0.8 compared with placebo use (-0.4).

The benefit of ecallantide was apparent within 2 hours after dosing and was maintained through 24 hours after dosing. The safety profile was similar between the treatment groups.

The study authors concluded that ecallantide is an effective and safe treatment for acute attacks of HAE.

References:

EDEMA4: a phase 3, double-blind study of subcutaneous ecallantide treatment for acute attacks of hereditary angioedema. Levy RJ, Lumry WR, McNeil DL, Li HH, Campion M, Horn PT, Pullman WE. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2010 Jun;104(6):523-9.

Virtually No Relapses After Ecallantide for Acute HAE attacks, despite short half-life. Medscape, 2011.