Description for Hemofil-M
HEMOFIL M, Antihemophilic Factor (Human) (AHF), Method M, Monoclonal Purified, is a sterile, nonpyrogenic, dried preparation of antihemophilic factor (Factor VIII, Factor VIII:C, AHF) in concentrated form with a specific activity range of 2 to 22 AHF International Units/mg of total protein. HEMOFIL M contains a maximum of 12.5 mg/mL Albumin, and per AHF International Unit, 0.07 mg polyethylene glycol (3350), 0.39 mg histidine as stabilizing agents, not more than 0.1 mg glycine, 0.1 ng mouse protein, 18 ng organic solvent (tri-n-butyl phosphate) and 50 ng detergent (octoxynol 9). In the absence of the added Albumin (Human), the specific activity is approximately 2,000 AHF International Units/mg of protein. [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY]
HEMOFIL M is prepared by the Method M process from pooled human plasma by immunoaffinity chromatography utilizing a murine monoclonal antibody to Factor VIII:C, followed by an ion exchange chromatography step for further purification. Source material may be provided by other US licensed manufacturers. HEMOFIL M also includes an organic solvent (tri-n-butyl phosphate) and detergent (octoxynol 9) virus inactivation step designed to reduce the risk of transmission of hepatitis and other viral diseases. The process further includes a nanofiltration step between immunoaffinity chromatography and ion-exchange chromatography as an additional viral clearance step to further improve the viral safety margin of the final product.
Use of an organic solvent (tri-n-butyl phosphate; TNBP) in the manufacture of Antihemophilic Factor (Human) has little or no effect on AHF activity, while lipid enveloped viruses, such as hepatitis B and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) would be inactivated.1 The nanofiltration step integrated into the manufacture of AHF-M further enhances the safety margin with respect to adventitious viruses. Each bottle of HEMOFIL M is labeled with the AHF activity expressed in International Units (IU) per bottle. This potency assignment is referenced to the World Health Organization International Standard. The purity of HEMOFIL M has been thought to influence the difficulty of producing an accurate potency measurement. Experiments have shown that to achieve accurate activity levels, such a potency assay should be conducted using plastic test tubes and pipets as well as substrate containing normal levels of von Willebrand's Factor.
In vitro studies demonstrate that the HEMOFIL M manufacturing process provides for viral reduction. These reductions are achieved through a combination of process chemistry, partitioning and/or inactivation during solvent/detergent treatment, and immunoaffinity chromatography. Introduction of a nanofiltration step with the 0.1μm prefilter and the ASAHI Planova 20N nanofilter provides a virus removal capacity for human immunodeficiency virus, Type 1 (HIV-1), hepatitis A virus (HAV), bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), pseudorabies virus (PRV), mice minute virus (MMV), and human parvovirus B19 (B19V) in the order of four (4) logs or higher. B19V removal data were obtained with a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay not correlated to an infectivity assay.
Studies for nanofiltration and other process steps, summarized in Table 1, demonstrate virus clearance during the HEMOFIL M manufacturing process using HIV-1; BVDV, a generic model for lipid enveloped RNA viruses, such as hepatitis C virus (HCV); PRV, a model for lipid enveloped DNA viruses, such as hepatitis B virus (HBV); canine parvovirus (CPV), a model for non-lipid enveloped DNA viruses, such as B19V, HAV, and MMV.
Table 1 : In Vitro Virus Clearance During the Manufacture of HEMOFIL M
| Process Step Evaluated | Virus Clearance, log 10 | |||||
| Lipit-enveloped | Non-Lipid enveloped | |||||
| HIV-1 | BVDV | PRV | HAV | CPV | MMV | |
| Solvent/Detergent Treatment | >4.8 | >6.8 | >6.9 | NT* | NT* | NT* |
| Immunoaffinity Chromatography | N.A.† | N.A.† | N.A.† | >4.5 | >3.9 | NT |
| Nanofiltration | >5.5 | >4.6 | >4.4 | >5.4 | NT | >5.0 |
| Cumulative Total, log10 | >10.3 | >11.4 | >11.3 | >9.9 | >3.9 | >5.0 |
| *As Solvent/Detergent treatment does not inactivate non-lipid enveloped viruses. †Not Applicable for lipid enveloped viruses due to the presence of (virucidal) solvent/detergent reagents in the starting material. |
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REFERENCES
1. Horowitz B, Wiebe ME, Lippin A, et al: Inactivation of viruses in labile blood derivatives: 1. Disruption of lipid enveloped viruses by tri(n-butyl)phosphate detergent combinations. Transfusion 25:516-522, 1985
Uses for Hemofil-M
HEMOFIL M is indicated in hemophilia A (classical hemophilia) for the prevention and control of hemorrhagic episodes.
HEMOFIL M is not indicated in von Willebrand's disease.
Dosage for Hemofil-M
For intravenous use only.
The expected in vivo peak AHF level, expressed as IU/dL of plasma or % (percent) of normal, can be calculated by multiplying the dose administered per kg body weight (IU/kg) by two. This calculation is based on the clinical finding by Abildgaard, et al,2 which is supported by data from the collaborative study of in vivo recovery and survival with 15 different lots of HEMOFIL M on 56 hemophiliacs that demonstrated a mean peak recovery point above the mean pre-infusion baseline of about 2.0 IU/dL per infused IU/kg body weight.3
Examples:
- A dose of 1750 IU AHF administered to a 70 kg patient, i.e., 25 IU/kg (1750/70), should be expected to cause a peak post-infusion AHF increase of 25 x 2 = 50 IU/dL (50% of normal).
- A peak level of 70% is required in a 40 kg child. In this situation the dose would be 70/2 x 40 = 1400 IU.
Recommended Dosage Schedule
Physician supervision of the dosage is required. The following dosage schedule may be used as a guide.
HEMORRHAGE
| Degree of hemorrhage | Required peak post-infusion AHF activity in the blood (as % of normal or IU/dL plasma) | Frequency of infusion |
| Early hemarthrosis or muscle bleed or oral bleed | 20-40 | Begin infusion every 12 to 24 hours for one-three days until the bleeding episode as indicated by pain is resolved or healing is achieved. |
| More extensive hemarthrosis, muscle bleed, or hematoma | 30-60 | Repeat infusion every 12 to 24 hours for usually three days or more until pain and disability are resolved. |
| Life threatening bleeds such as head injury, throat bleed, severe abdominal pain | 60-100 | Repeat infusion every 8 to 24 hours until threat is resolved. |
| SURGERY | ||
| Type of operation | ||
| Minor surgery, including tooth extraction | 60-80 | A single infusion plus oral A single infusion plus oral |
| Major surgery | 80-100 (pre- and post-operative) |
Repeat infusion every 8 to 24 hours depending on state of healing. |
If bleeding is not controlled with the prescribed dose, determine the plasma level of Factor VIII and administer a sufficient dose of HEMOFIL M to achieve a satisfactory clinical response.
Under certain circumstances (e.g., presence of a low titer inhibitor) doses larger than those recommended may be necessary as per standard care. In patients with high titer Factor VIII inhibitors, HEMOFIL M therapy may not be effective and other therapeutic options should be considered. The dosage and duration of treatment depend on the severity of Factor VIII deficiency, the location and extent of the bleeding, and the patient’s clinical condition. Careful control of replacement therapy is especially important in cases of major surgery or life threatening hemorrhages.
Reconstitution: Use Aseptic Technique
- Bring HEMOFIL M (dry concentrate) and Sterile Water for Injection, USP, (diluent) to room temperature.
- Remove caps from concentrate and diluent bottles to expose central portion of rubber stoppers.
- Cleanse stoppers with germicidal solution.
- Remove protective covering from one end of double-ended needle and insert exposed needle through diluent stopper.
- Remove protective covering from other end of double-ended needle. Invert diluent bottle over upright HEMOFIL M bottle, then rapidly insert free end of the needle through the HEMOFIL M bottle stopper at its center. The vacuum in the HEMOFIL M bottle will draw in the diluent.
- Disconnect the two bottles by removing needle from diluent bottle stopper, then remove needle from HEMOFIL M bottle. Swirl gently until all material is dissolved. Be sure that HEMOFIL M is completely dissolved; otherwise active material will be removed by the filter.
Note: Do not refrigerate after reconstitution.
Administration: Use Aseptic Technique
- Intravenous administration only.
- Administer at room temperature not more than 3 hours after reconstitution.
- Record the name and batch number of the product in order to maintain a link between the patient and the batch of the product.
Intravenous Syringe Injection
- Visually inspect parenteral product for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration. The solution should be colorless in appearance. Do not administer if particulate matter or discoloration is found.
- Plastic syringes are recommended for use with this product. The ground glass surface of all-glass syringes tend to stick with solutions of this type.
- Attach filter needle to a disposable syringe and draw back plunger to admit air into syringe.
- Insert needle into reconstituted HEMOFIL M.
- Inject air into bottle and then withdraw the reconstituted material into the syringe.
- Remove and discard the filter needle from the syringe; attach a suitable needle and inject intravenously as instructed under Rate Of Administration.
- If a patient is to receive more than one bottle of HEMOFIL M, the contents of two bottles may be drawn into the same syringe by drawing up each bottle through a separate unused filter needle. This practice lessens the loss of HEMOFIL M. Filter needles are intended to filter the contents of a single bottle of HEMOFIL M only.
Rate Of Administration
Administer HEMOFIL M at a rate of up to 10 mL per minute. Infuse HEMOFIL M at a rate of administration that ensures the comfort of the patient [see PRECAUTIONS: Increase Of Pulse Rate].
HOW SUPPLIED
Storage And Handling
HEMOFIL M is available as single-dose bottles that contain the following nominal potencies:
| Nominal Potency | Kit NDC Number |
| 250 IU | 0944-3940-02 |
| 500 IU | 0944-3942-02 |
| 1000 IU | 0944-3944-02 |
| 1700 IU | 0944-3946-02 |
Each bottle is labeled with the potency in International Units, and is packaged together with 10 mL of Sterile Water for Injection, USP, a double-ended needle, and a filter needle.
Not made with natural rubber latex.
Storage
HEMOFIL M can be stored at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F) or at room temperature, not to exceed 30°C (86°F), until expiration date noted on the package.
Do not freeze.
REFERENCES
2. Abildgaard CF, Simone JV, Corrigan JJ, et al: Treatment of hemophilia with glycine-precipitated Factor VIII. New Eng J Med 275:471-475, 1966.
3. Addiego, Jr. JE, Gomperts E, Liu S. et al: Treatment of hemophilia A with a highly purified Factor VIII concentrate prepared by Anti-FVIIIc immunoaffinity chromatography. Thrombosis and Haemostasis 67:19-27, 1992.
Manufuctured by: Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. Lexington, MA 02421. Revised: Mar 2023.
Warnings for Hemofil-M
Hypersensitivity
Allergic-type hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, have been reported with HEMOFIL M and have been manifested by bronchospasm, dyspnea, hypotension, chest pain, facial edema, urticaria, rash, flushing, pruritus, and nausea.
Neutralizing Antibodies
The development of neutralizing antibodies (inhibitors) to Factor VIII is a known complication of the treatment of patients with Hemophilia A. Inhibitors have predominantly been reported in previously untreated patients. The risk of developing inhibitors is correlated to the extent of exposure to Factor VIII, the risk being highest within the first 20 exposure days, and to other genetic and environmental factors. The risk for inhibitor development depends on a number of factors relating to the characteristics of the patient (e.g., type of the Factor VIII gene mutation, family history, ethnicity), which are believed to represent the most significant risk factors for inhibitor formation.
Transmission Of Infectious Agents
Because HEMOFIL M is made from human blood, it may carry a risk of transmitting infectious agents, e.g., viruses, the variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) agent and, theoretically, the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) agent. This also applies to unknown or emerging viruses and other pathogens.
All infections thought by a physician possibly to have been transmitted by this product should be reported by the physician or other healthcare provider to Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. at 1-877-TAKEDA-7 (1-877-825-3327) or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. The physician should discuss the risks and benefits of this product with the patient.
Individuals who receive infusions of blood or plasma products may develop signs and/or symptoms of some viral infections, particularly non-A, non-B hepatitis. As indicated under CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, however, a group of such patients treated with HEMOFIL M did not demonstrate signs or symptoms of non-A, non-B hepatitis over observation periods ranging from three to nine months.
Precautions for Hemofil-M
Identification of the clotting defect as a Factor VIII deficiency is essential before the administration of HEMOFIL M is initiated.
Factor VIII Inhibitors
Evaluate patients for the development of Factor VIII inhibitors if the expected plasma Factor VIII activity levels are not attained or if bleeding is not controlled with an appropriate dose.
No benefit may be expected from this product in treating other deficiencies.
Formation Of Antibodies To Mouse Protein
HEMOFIL M contains trace amounts of mouse protein (less than 0.1 ng/AHF activity units). The possibility exists that patients treated with HEMOFIL M may develop hypersensitivity to the mouse proteins. There have been no cases of hypersensitivity to the mouse proteins reported.
Increase In Pulse Rate
Determine the pulse rate before and during administration of HEMOFIL M. Should a significant increase occur, reduce the rate of administration or temporarily halt the injection to allow the symptoms to disappear promptly.
Laboratory Tests
Perform appropriate laboratory tests on the patient's plasma at suitable intervals to ensure that adequate AHF levels have been reached and are maintained.
If the AHF content of the patient's plasma fails to reach expected levels or if bleeding is not controlled after apparently adequate dosage, the presence of inhibitor should be suspected. By appropriate laboratory procedures, the presence of inhibitor can be demonstrated and quantified in terms of AHF units neutralized by each mL of plasma or by the total estimated plasma volume.
If the inhibitor is at low levels (i.e., <10 Bethesda units per mL), after administration of sufficient AHF units to neutralize the inhibitor, additional AHF units will elicit the predicted response.
Pregnancy
Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with HEMOFIL M. The safety of HEMOFIL M for use in pregnant women has not been established. It is not known whether HEMOFIL M can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. HEMOFIL M should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.
Nursing Mothers
The safety of HEMOFIL M for use in nursing mothers has not been established. It is not known whether this drug is excreted into human milk. Physicians should carefully consider the potential risks and benefits for each specific patient before prescribing HEMOFIL M. HEMOFIL M should be given to nursing mothers only if clinically indicated.
Clinical Pharmacology for Hemofil-M
Antihemophilic factor (AHF) is a protein found in normal plasma which is necessary for clot formation. The administration of HEMOFIL M provides an increase in plasma levels of AHF and can temporarily correct the coagulation defect of patients with hemophilia A (classical hemophilia). The half-life of HEMOFIL M administered to Factor VIII deficient patients has been shown to be 14.8 ± 3.0 hours.
Patient Information for Hemofil-M
- Advise patients to report any adverse reactions or problems following HEMOFIL M administration to their physician or healthcare provider.
- Advise pregnant women or immune compromised individuals of the effects of Parvovirus B19. Symptoms include fever, drowsiness, chills, runny nose followed about two weeks later by a rash, and joint pain.
- Inform patients of the signs and symptoms of hepatitis A, which include several days to weeks of poor appetite, tiredness, and low-grade fever followed by nausea, vomiting, and pain in the belly. Dark urine and a yellowed complexion are also common symptoms. Encourage patients to consult their physician if such symptoms appear.
- Inform patients of the early signs of hypersensitivity reactions including hives, generalized urticaria, facial edema, flushing, nausea, tightness of the chest, wheezing, dyspnea, hypotension, and anaphylaxis. Advise patients to discontinue use of the product and contact their physician if these symptoms occur.
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