Immune-Mediated Diseases and Deficiencies

Octapharma develops and manufactures high-purity human immunoglobulin products for treating immune-mediated diseases and deficiencies.

The immune system plays a key role in numerous conditions. In so-called immune deficiencies, the patient is prone to severe infections due to a lack of naturally occurring protective antibodies (immunoglobulins). Such patients need replacement of the missing immunoglobulins in order to protect them against infections and ensure they can lead a normal life.

Conditions where the immune system is out of balance are generally referred to as immune-mediated diseases, of which auto-immune diseases are a well-known subgroup. Such conditions may lead to various diseases, including bleeding disorders with a reduced number of blood platelets (immune thombocytopenic purpura (ITP)) and inflammatory neurologic conditions such as Guillain-Barré-Syndrome (GBS), chronic demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) or multiple sclerosis (MS). Many other organ systems can also be a target of an immune-mediated disease.

Immunotherapy treats immune diseases and deficiencies by inducing, enhancing, or suppressing an immune response through immunomodulation or immunoglobulin replacement therapy.

Indications for Octapharma's immunotherapy products

• Primary Immunodeficiency (PID)
• Myeleoma and chronic lymphatic leukaemia (CLL) with severe secondary hypogrammaglobulinaemia
• Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
• Kawasaki disease
• Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS)
• Children with congenital AIDS and recurrent infections
• Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation