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Important Safety Information Prescribing Information

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BIVIGAM is an Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human), 10% Liquid, indicated for the treatment of patients with primary humoral immunodeficiency (PI).

This includes, but is not limited to, the humoral immune defect in common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), X-linked agammaglobulinemia, congenital agammaglobulinemia, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, and severe combined immunodeficiencies.

The product contains a broad spectrum of neutralizing IgG subclasses similar to that of normal plasma; those antibodies are directed against bacterial and viral pathogens and their toxins in order to avoid recurrent serious opportunistic infections.1

How BIVIGAM will be administered

Your physician or the infusion nurse will determine the rate of infusion so that the infusion will be optimally tolerable for you. The infused dose is calculated based on your body weight.1

You should be monitored closely during your first infusion. If tolerated well during the first 10 minutes, the rate of infusion can be gradually increased every 20 minutes.1

Typically, you can receive your BIVIGAM infusions at:

  • Hospital and associated outpatient infusion centers
  • Infusion centers
  • Physicians' offices
  • Your home, infused by a homecare provider

Please contact your physician to discuss how you would prefer to receive BIVIGAM and what services are available in your area. You should also check with your health insurance plan to determine whether or not your preferred site of service is covered.

Reference:

  1. BIVIGAM Prescribing Information. Biotest Pharmaceuticals Corporation, 2013.

Important Safety Information for BIVIGAM® [Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human), 10% Liquid]

BIVIGAM® [Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human), 10% Liquid] is indicated for the treatment of primary humoral immunodeficiency (PI). This includes, but is not limited to, the humoral immune defect in common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), X-linked agammaglobulinemia, congenital agammaglobulinemia, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, and severe combined immunodeficiencies.

WARNING: THROMBOSIS, RENAL DYSFUNCTION, AND ACUTE RENAL FAILURE

  • Thrombosis may occur with immune globulin intravenous (IGIV) products, including BIVIGAM. Risk factors may include: advanced age, prolonged immobilization, hypercoagulable conditions, a history of venous or arterial thrombosis, the use of estrogens, indwelling vascular catheters, hyperviscosity and cardiovascular risk factors.
  • Renal dysfunction, acute renal failure, osmotic nephrosis, and death may occur with the administration of Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human) (IGIV) products in predisposed patients.
  • Renal dysfunction and acute renal failure occur more commonly in patients receiving IGIV products containing sucrose. BIVIGAM does not contain sucrose.
  • For patients at risk of thrombosis, renal dysfunction, or renal failure, administer BIVIGAM at the minimum dose and infusion rate practicable. Ensure adequate hydration in patients before administration. Monitor for signs and symptoms of thrombosis and assess blood viscosity in patients at risk for hyperviscosity.

BIVIGAM is contraindicated in patients who have had an anaphylactic or severe systemic reaction to the administration of human immune globulin and in IgA-deficient patients with antibodies to IgA and history of hypersensitivity.

Thrombosis may occur following treatment with IGIV products, including BIVIGAM. Thrombosis may occur in the absence of known risk factors.

Consider baseline assessment of blood viscosity in patients at risk for hyperviscosity, including those with cryoglobulins, fasting chylomicronemia/ markedly high triacylglycerols (triglycerides), or monoclonal gammopathies. For patients at risk of thrombosis, administer BIVIGAM at the minimum dose and infusion rate practicable.

In patients at risk of developing acute renal failure, renal function, including blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine, and urine output need to be monitored.

Hyperproteinemia, increased serum viscosity, and hyponatremia or pseudohyponatremia can occur in patients receiving IGIV therapy. Aseptic meningitis syndrome (AMS) has been reported with IGIV treatments; AMS may occur more frequently in association with high doses (2 g/kg) and/or rapid infusion of IGIV.

As hemolysis can develop subsequent to treatment with IGIV products, monitor patients for hemolysis and hemolytic anemia. Monitor patients for pulmonary adverse reactions (transfusion-related acute lung injury [TRALI]). If TRALI is suspected, test the product and patient for antineutrophil antibodies.

Because BIVIGAM is made from human blood, it may carry a risk of transmitting infectious agents, e.g., viruses, and theoretically, the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) agent.

Passive transfer of antibodies with IGIV treatment may yield positive serological testing results, with the potential for misleading interpretation.

Serious adverse reactions observed in clinical trial subjects receiving BIVIGAM were vomiting and dehydration in one subject. The most common adverse reactions to BIVIGAM (reported in ≥ 5% of clinical study subjects) were headache, fatigue, infusion site reaction, nausea, sinusitis, blood pressure increase, diarrhea, dizziness, and lethargy.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/MedWatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

For more information about BIVIGAM, please see full Prescribing Information.