Healthcare Providers

Get Started on VPRIV

In order to help your patients begin treatment with VPRIV, you should work with your patient to complete, sign and submit a Start Form, available for download.

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If you have questions about the form, please contact us

Tolerability and Safety

Learn about the antibody and adverse reaction profile of VPRIV.

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OnePath® Services

Learn about the many support services that OnePath® can offer you

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OnePath® is a comprehensive and personalized support program for eligible patients, families, and healthcare providers needing assistance with approved Shire Human Genetic Therapies, Inc. products.

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Dosing and Infusion

Completing the Treatment Story With Key Dosing Details1

  • Recommended dose is 60 Units/kg every other week as a 60-minute IV infusion
  • Patients currently being treated with imiglucerase for type 1 Gaucher disease may be switched to VPRIV
    • Patients previously treated on a stable dose of imiglucerase are recommended to begin treatment with VPRIV at the same dose when they switch from imiglucerase to VPRIV
  • No routine requirement for pretreatment medication in clinical trials
    • Pretreatment may prevent subsequent reactions in those cases where symptomatic treatment was required
  • Infusion-related reactions were the most commonly observed adverse reactions in patients treated with VPRIV in clinical studies
  • Management of infusion-related reactions should be based on the severity of the reaction, for example:
    • Slowing infusion rate
    • Treatment with appropriate medications such as antihistamines, antipyretics, and/or corticosteroids
    • And/or stopping and resuming treatment with increased infusion time

Dosage Adjustments

  • Dosage adjustments can be made on an individual basis, based on achievement and maintenance of therapeutic goals
  • Clinical studies have evaluated doses ranging from 15 Units/kg to 60 Units/kg every other week

download the dosing and infusion guide and other resources about VPRIV and product support services

Reference:
1. VPRIV [package insert]. Cambridge, MA: Shire Human Genetic Therapies, Inc.; 2010.

Indication

  • VPRIV® (velaglucerase alfa for injection) is a hydrolytic lysosomal glucocerebroside-specific enzyme indicated for long-term enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) for pediatric and adult patients with type 1 Gaucher disease.

Important Safety Information

  • The most serious adverse reactions in patients treated with VPRIV were hypersensitivity reactions. Appropriate medical support should be available when VPRIV is administered. If a severe reaction occurs, medical standards for emergency treatment are to be followed.
  • Treatment with VPRIV should be used with caution in patients who have exhibited symptoms of hypersensitivity to the active ingredient, drug product excipients, or to other enzyme replacement therapies.
  • Infusion-related reactions were the most commonly observed adverse reactions in patients treated with VPRIV in clinical studies. The most commonly observed symptoms of infusion-related reactions were: headache, dizziness, hypotension, hypertension, nausea, asthenia/fatigue, and pyrexia. Generally the infusion-related reactions were mild and, in treatment-naïve patients, onset occurred mostly during the first 6 months of treatment and tended to occur less frequently with time.
  • Management of infusion-related reactions should be based on severity of the reaction, such as slowing the infusion rate, treatment with medications such as antihistamines, antipyretics and/or corticosteroids, and/or stopping and resuming treatment with increased infusion time.
  • Other commonly observed adverse reactions in ≥10% of ERT-naïve or imiglucerase-switched patients were: headache, dizziness, abdominal pain, nausea, back pain, joint pain, upper respiratory tract infection, activated PTT prolonged, infusion-related reactions, pyrexia, and asthenia/fatigue.
  • All adult adverse reactions to VPRIV are considered relevant to pediatric patients (ages 4 to 17 years). Adverse reactions more common in pediatric patients (>10% difference) included upper respiratory tract infection, rash, aPTT prolonged, and pyrexia. The safety of VPRIV has not been established in pediatric patients younger than 4 years of age.
  • As with all therapeutic proteins, there is a potential for immunogenicity. In clinical studies, 1 of 54 treatment-naïve patients treated with VPRIV (who received a 45 Units/kg dose) developed IgG class antibodies (neutralizing in an in vitro assay). It is unknown if the presence of IgG antibodies to VPRIV is associated with a higher risk of infusion reactions. Patients with an immune response to other enzyme replacement therapies who are switching to VPRIV should continue to be monitored for antibodies.
  • For more information, please see the full prescribing information or call Shire at 1-866-888-0660
  • To report suspected adverse events, please contact Shire Human Genetic Therapies at 1-866-888-0660 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
  • For assistance with medical inquiries about VPRIV, please contact Medical Information at 1-866-888-0660 option 2 or US_ShireHGT_MedicalInformation@shire.com.