What is Augmentation Therapy?
For Alpha-1 patients with emphysema, augmentation therapy with a form of
alpha1-proteinase inhibitor (A1-PI) derived from human
plasma has been shown to help to increase the level of A1-PI in the
lungs.1 This is important because studies show that low levels of
A1-PI put you at risk of developing progressively worsening emphysema.1
Alpha-1 augmentation therapy is administered intravenously.1 It
can be administered in a doctor's office, in an infusion center or hospital,
or at home.2 The most common side effects of Alpha-1 augmentation
therapy are fatigue, injection-site pain, dizziness, headache, tingling, and
itching.
Zemaira® is used for
chronic A1-PI augmentation therapy in adult Alpha-1 patients with
emphysema. Zemaira® has been shown to be safe and effective,
with half or less the infusion volume and time of other Alpha-1 therapies.3-5*
Important Safety Information
Alpha1-Proteinase Inhibitor (Human), Zemaira is indicated for chronic augmentation and maintenance therapy for adults with alpha1-proteinase inhibitor (A1-PI) deficiency and emphysema. Clinical data demonstrating the long-term effects of chronic augmentation therapy with Zemaira are not available.
Zemaira may not be appropriate for the following adult individuals as they may experience severe reactions, including anaphylaxis: individuals with a known hypersensitivity and/or history of anaphylaxis or severe systemic reaction to A1-PI products or their components, and individuals with selective IgA deficiencies who have known antibodies against IgA.
In clinical studies, the following treatment-related adverse reactions were reported in 1% of subjects: asthenia (fatigue), injection-site pain, dizziness, headache, paresthesia (tingling), and pruritus (itching).
Zemaira is derived from human plasma. The risk of transmission of infectious agents, including viruses and, theoretically, the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) agent, cannot be completely eliminated.
Please see full prescribing information.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
- American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society Task Force. American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society statement: standards for the diagnosis and management of individuals with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2003;168:818-900.
- Alpha-1 Foundation. A Healthcare Provider’s Guide to Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. [Alpha-1 Foundation Web Site], November 2003. Available at: http://www.alphaone.org/files/Healthcare_Providers_Guide.pdf. Accessed January 20, 2004.
- Data on file, CSL Behring LLC.
- Prolastin® Alpha1-Proteinase Inhibitor (Human), Full Prescribing Information, March 2003.
- Aralast™ Alpha1-Proteinase Inhibitor (Human), Full Prescribing Information, January 2003.