CSL Behring recently announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Hizentra (immune globulin subcutaneous [human] 20% liquid) as the first and only subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIg) for the treatment of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) as maintenance therapy to prevent relapse of neuromuscular disability and impairment. CIDP is a rare autoimmune disorder that affects the peripheral nerves and may cause permanent nerve damage. CSL Behring is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, and King of Prussia, PA, in the US.

Indications: Hizentra is indicated for the treatment of:

• Primary immunodeficiency (PI) in adults and pediatric patients aged ≥2 years.
• Maintenance therapy in adults with CIDP.

Dosage/administration: Hizentra is for subcutaneous infusion only. Before switching to Hizentra, physicians should obtain the patient’s serum IgG trough level to guide subsequent dose adjustments. Additional information about dosing can be found here: http://labeling.cslbehring.com/PI/US/Hizentra/EN/Hizentra-Prescribing-Information.pdf.

Adverse reactions: The most common adverse reactions observed in ≥5% of study subjects were local infusion site reactions, headache, diarrhea, fatigue, back pain, nausea, pain in extremity, cough, upper respiratory tract infection, rash, pruritus, vomiting, abdominal pain (upper), migraine, arthralgia, pain, fall and nasopharyngitis.