Sebelipase alfa is indicated for long-term enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) in people of all ages with lysosomal acid lipase (LAL) deficiency.[6]
History
Sebelipase was developed by Synageva that became part of Alexion Pharmaceuticals in 2015. For its production, chickens are genetically modified to produce the recombinant form of LAL (rhLAL) in their egg white. After extraction and purification it becomes available as the medication.[9] On 8 December 2015 the FDA announced that its approval came from two centers: The Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) approved the human therapeutic application of the medication, while the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) approved the application for a recombinant DNA construct in genetically engineered chicken to produce rhLAL in their egg whites.[10] At the time it gained FDA approval Kanuma was the first only drug manufactured in chicken eggs and intended for use in humans.[9]
Sebelipase alfa is an orphan drug; its effectiveness was published after a phase 3 trial in 2015.[11] The disease of LAL affects < 0.2 in 10,000 people in the EU.[8]
^ abcd"Kanuma EPAR". European Medicines Agency (EMA). 17 September 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2020. Text was copied from this source which is copyright European Medicines Agency. Reproduction is authorized provided the source is acknowledged.