![\"blood](\"https:\/\/aa-pnh.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/erkrankungen_title.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
On 13 December 2021 a new drug<\/strong> for the treatment of adult patients with PNH was approved in the EU<\/strong>: The substance pegcetacoplan<\/strong> which inhibits specific processes in the immune system<\/a> will probably be available in Germany in the beginning of 2022. Its trade name is Aspaveli®. <\/p>\n <\/p> The drug is a so-called C3 complement inhibitor<\/strong>: The complement system<\/a> is part of the body’s own immune system<\/a> which in PNH attacks the red blood cells (erythrocyte<\/a>s) and destroys them. Pegcetacoplan inhibits a certain part of the complement system<\/a> and thereby the destruction of red blood cells outside the blood vessels (extravascular<\/a>), leading to an improved life cycle of the erythrocyte<\/a>s and improved haemoglobin<\/a> levels.<\/p>\n 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<\/a>. The drug is administered twice a week as a subcutaneous infusion<\/a>. Among the most common side effects are reactions at the injection site, infections of the upper respiratory tract, headache, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea.<\/p>\n “Summary of product characteristics<\/strong>“<\/a> by the European Medicines Agency EMA<\/a>.<\/p>\n 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<\/a> on our website.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"