Pharming and Salix's Ruconest launches in the USA for hereditary angioedema

Pharming Group (Euronext: PHARM) and Salix Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: SLXP) have launched Ruconest (C1 esterase inhibitor) in the USA for the treatment of acute angioedema attacks in adult and adolescent hereditary angioedema patients. Effectiveness in clinical studies was not established in HAE patients with laryngeal attacks.

The drug was approved in July by the US Food and Drug Administration. It can be administered by patients once they have received training by a health care provider.

Carolyn Logan, president and chief executive of Salix, said: “We’re excited to offer the only recombinant C1 esterase inhibitor therapy for HAE in the United States. Ruconest treats the root cause of HAE attacks, which has been shown to raise C1 inhibitor levels to within the normal range. Ruconest can be self-administered by appropriately trained patients and is effective at stopping most HAE attacks in one dose.”