Emapalumab is used to treat primary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) with refractory, recurrent or progressive disease or intolerance with conventional HLH therapy.[3]
Adverse effects
In the clinical trials that lead to emapalumab's FDA approval, the most commonly reported adverse effects were infections (56%), high blood pressure (41%), infusion reactions (27%), and fever (24%).[2][8] Serious adverse effects occurred in about half of the subjects studied in the clinical trial that led to its FDA approval.[8]
Pharmacology
Mechanism of action
In the setting of HLH, over-secretion of IFN-γ is thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease.[2] Emapalumab binds and neutralizes IFN-γ, preventing it from inducing pathological effects.[2]
Pharmacokinetics
Like other antibody-based medications, which are made of amino acid chains called polypeptides, emapalumab is broken down into smaller peptides via the body's normal catabolism.[2]
In July 2020, and again in November 2020, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommended the refusal of the marketing authorization for emapalumab.[12][13]
Research
The research name of emapalumab was NI-0501.[1] A phase II/III trial began in 2013 and is ongoing as of August 2018[update].[14] The trial targets patients under the age of 18 who have failed to improve on conventional treatments.[15] This study was realised in the context of an EU-funded FP7 project, named FIGHT-HLH (306124).[citation needed]
^Clinical trial number NCT02069899 for "Long-term Follow-up of HLH Patients Who Received Treatment With NI-0501, an Anti-interferon Gamma Monoclonal Antibody" at ClinicalTrials.gov
^Clinical trial number NCT01818492 for "A Study to Investigate the Safety and Efficacy of an Anti-IFNγ mAb in Children Affected by Primary Haemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis" at ClinicalTrials.gov
Clinical trial number NCT01818492 for "A Study to Investigate the Safety and Efficacy of an Anti-IFNγ mAb in Children Affected by Primary Haemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis" at ClinicalTrials.gov