What is Eculizumab?

Eculizumab, sold under the brand names Soliris and other brands, is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody used to treat paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) and neuromyelitis optica (NMOSD). In patients with PNH, it reduces the destruction of red blood cells and the need for blood transfusions but does not appear to affect the risk of death. Eculizumab was the first drug approved for each use, and its approval was based on small trials.

Eculizumab is developed, manufactured and sold by Alexion Pharmaceuticals. It is administered via intravenous infusion. It is a humanized monoclonal antibody with terminal complement inhibitor function. Side effects include the risk of meningococcal infection, which is only available to those patients who have enrolled and followed a risk assessment and mitigation strategy, in which doctors must counsel patients and ensure they are vaccinated. Because of the increased risk of meningococcal sepsis, eculizumab should not be given to people with Neisseria meningitidis infection and should not be given to patients who have not been vaccinated against this bacteria unless they are vaccinated and take appropriate antibiotics within two weeks of vaccination to reduce the risk of infection.

The generic drug Eculizumab has been launched in China and is covered by medical insurance. It is only available for reimbursement to eligible patients. The specification is 300mg (30ml) and the price per box may be more than 3,000 yuan. It is understood that the price of each box of the original Eculizumab drug sold overseas is more than 6,000 US dollars (the price may fluctuate due to the exchange rate). The ingredients of the original drug sold at home and abroad are basically the same, and the price of the original drug is still relatively expensive. There are currently no generic versions of eculizumab available on the market.