Coagulation Factor VIIa [Eptacog Alfa]

Indications

Coagulation Factor VIIa [Eptacog Alfa] is used to treat bleeding episodes in people with haemophilia. It is also used for bleeding episodes due to surgery or invasive procedures in patients with factor VII deficiency, and for the same kind of bleeding in patients with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia.

⚠️ Always consult a registered physician before taking any medicine.

Pharmacology

Eptacog alfa is a recombinant form of activated factor VII, made by recombinant DNA technology, so it is a biosynthetic preparation. It is a vitamin K-dependent glycoprotein. The medicine helps stop bleeding by activating the extrinsic pathway of the coagulation cascade. It replaces deficient activated coagulation factor VII, which forms a complex with tissue factor and may activate coagulation factor X and factor IX. Factor VIIa is given in this recombinant form, eptacog alfa (activated).

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Try to avoid Coagulation Factor VIIa (eptacog alfa) during pregnancy. Animal studies have shown harmful effects on the foetus (teratogenic, embryocidal or other), and there are either no controlled studies in women or no studies in women and animals at all. The medicine should be given only if the possible benefit justifies the possible risk to the foetus.

Nobody knows yet whether eptacog alfa passes into human breast milk. Its excretion in milk hasn't been studied in animals either.

⚠️ Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Dosage Reference

⚠️ Reference ranges from official sources only. Consult your doctor for personalized dosing.

Adults: For adults with haemophilia who have a bleeding episode, Coagulation Factor VIIa (as activated eptacog alfa) starts at 90 mcg/kg, given as an IV bolus over 2 to 5 min. More doses can be given as needed to reach or maintain haemostasis, at first every 2 to 3 hours. The dose or the gap between doses may be adjusted according to response, and in serious bleeding episodes therapy may continue for up to 3 weeks or more. For bleeding episodes due to surgery or invasive procedures in adults with factor VII deficiency, the dose of activated eptacog alfa is 15 to 30 mcg/kg every 4 to 6 hours by IV bolus over 2 to 5 min, until haemostasis is achieved. For bleeding episodes due to surgery or invasive procedures in Glanzmann's thrombasthenia, adults receive 90 mcg/kg every 2 hours by IV bolus over 2 to 5 min, and at least 3 doses should be given.