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Guidelines are summaries of the current scientific knowledge about a disease – in addition to a complete list of possible symptoms and the most targeted diagnostic methods, you can read about the best possible treatment options according to the current state of knowledge. They serve primarily as a non-binding guide for doctors, but also contain interesting information for patients. Every now and then, guidelines are updated so that the findings of new studies can be incorporated into everyday medical practice - this is exactly what happened this month for the PNH guideline of the German Society of Haematology and Medical Oncology (DGHO) . The last version was still from November 2019 and a revision was necessary in particular to bring recommendations on the use of new drug therapy options up to the status of 2022: Specifically, we are talking about pegcetacoplan, the new C3 complement inhibitor, which has been approved in the EU since December 2021 under the trade name Aspaveli® and, according to the manufacturer Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (Sobi), is expected to be available as a therapy option in Germany from April 2022. WEITER
On 13 December 2021 a new drug for the treatment of adult patients with PNH was approved in the EU: The substance pegcetacoplan which inhibits specific processes in the immune system will probably be available in Germany in the beginning of 2022. Its trade name is Aspaveli®.
The drug is a so-called C3 complement inhibitor: The complement system is part of the body's own immune system which in PNH attacks the red blood cells (erythrocytes) and destroys them. Pegcetacoplan inhibits a certain part of the complement system and thereby the destruction of red blood cells outside the blood vessels (extravascular), leading to an improved life cycle of the erythrocytes and improved haemoglobin levels.
Pegecetacoplan is approved for patients who remain anaemic despite treatment with a C5 inhibitor (eculizumab or ravulizumab) for at least 3 months. C5 is also part of the complement system. The drug is administered twice a week as a subcutaneous infusion. Among the most common side effects are reactions at the injection site, infections of the upper respiratory tract, headache, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea.
"Summary of product characteristics" by the European Medicines Agency EMA.
The drug is not entirely new: On 5 April of this year, we already reported in detail on the mechanism of action and the current studies on it in a blog post on our website.
In connection with the Day of Rare Diseases , the Ulm University Hospital held another AA / PNH patient seminar on March 6th, 2021. Due to the pandemic, it took place in virtual form for the first time and also attracted numerous participants in this format.
The lectures of the varied program are available for download on the website of the Center for Rare Diseases of the Ulm University Hospital .
We read and hear it every day in the newspaper and on the radio - the COVID vaccination operation is in full swing and the number of first and second vaccinated people in Germany is steadily increasing. The proportion of vaccinated AA / PNH patients is also increasing, but whether and how they react to the vaccination compared to healthy people has not yet been scientifically recorded. Therefore we have created a short anonymous survey and ask you to tell us about your experience with vaccination. You can also take part in the survey if you cannot or do not want to be vaccinated or if you have contracted COVID-19. In doing so, you help to create a meaningful database to further improve the care of AA / PNH patients in the future.
We make the results of the survey available to science free of charge. Participating patients can also receive the evaluations on request.
The survey and further information can be found under the following link: https://aa-pnh.org/umfragen/irvap/de/ and in English at https://aa-pnh.org/umfragen/irvap/en/
Thank you for your help!
A virtual workshop on aplastic anemia and PNH will take place on Monday, June 14th, 2021 at 5 p.m. Prof. Dr. Jörg Westermann from Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin will inform you about the origin, diagnosis and treatment options for both diseases and is available to answer any questions. Afterwards, the participants have the opportunity to exchange experiences with one another.
The workshop is part of the DLH patient congress ( Deutsche Leukämie- & Lymphom-Hilfe eV ), which also offers numerous other workshops on, in some cases, cross-disease topics. Take a look at the program and register at https://www.dlh-kongress.de/der-kongress/online-anmeldung/ .
*** Attention! The workshop is not recorded so you cannot watch it later! ***