Treating VWD

If you have been diagnosed with von Willebrand disease (VWD), the von Willebrand factor (VWF) in your blood either is insufficient or does not work properly. To treat this condition, you need to replace the VWF that is missing or ineffective. Learn about the treatment options available to you:

  • Stimate (desmopressin acetate) Nasal Spray. Stimate Nasal Spray is a synthetic copy of a natural hormone, vasopressin, which helps the body release more VWF into the bloodstream.1 It is for people with mild to moderate type 1 VWD. Because it’s a nasal spray, it can be easier to use than an injectable treatment.
  • DDAVP (desmopressin acetate). DDAVP is also a synthetic copy of the naturally occurring hormone, vasopressin. Like Stimate Nasal Spray, it is also for people with mild to moderate type 1 VWD. DDAVP comes in an injectable form.2
  • VWF Replacement Therapy. Also known as VWF concentrate, VWF replacement therapy is an injectable medicine that replaces the missing or ineffective VWF in the blood. 2 This type of treatment is most effective in2:
    • People who cannot use desmopressin acetate or who need prolonged treatment
    • People with Type 1 VWD whose bleeding is not adequately controlled by desmopressin acetate
    • People with Type 1 VWD who experience severe bleeding symptoms
    • People with Type 2 VWD
    • People with Type 3 VWD

Humate-P (Antihemophilic Factor/Von Willebrand Factor [Human]) is a VWF/FVIII replacement therapy that may be an option for some patients who do not respond adequately to Stimate Nasal Spray.

  • Humate-P can be used in all types of VWD for the treatment of bleeding episodes and for the prevention of bleeding during and after all surgical procedures.3-7

Please see important safety information for Humate-P below.

References:

  1. Mannucci PM. How I treat patients with von Willebrand disease. Blood. 2001;97(7):1915-1919.
  2. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Management of von Willebrand Disease. Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health; 2007. NIH Publication No. 08-5832.
  3. Berntorp E, Archey W, Auerswald G, et al. A systematic overview of the first pasteurised VWF/FVIII medicinal product, Haemate-P®/Humate-P®: history and clinical performance. Eur J Haematol. 2008;80(Suppl 70):3-35.
  4. Gill JC, Ewenstein BM, Thompson AR, Mueller-Velten G, Schwartz BA, for the Humate-P Study Group. Successful treatment of urgent bleeding in von Willebrand disease with factor VIII/VWF concentrate (Humate-P®): use of the ristocetin cofactor assay (VWF:RCo) to measure potency and to guide therapy. Haemophilia. 2003;9(6):688-695.
  5. Lillicrap D, Poon M-C, Walker I, Xie F, Schwartz BA, and members of the Association of Hemophilia Clinic Directors of Canada. Efficacy and safety of the factor VIII/von Willebrand factor concentrate, Haemate-P®/Humate-P®: ristocetin cofactor unit dosing in patients with von Willebrand disease. Thromb Haemost. 2002;87(2):224-230.
  6. Lethagen S, Kyrle PA, Castaman G, Haertel S, Mannucci PM, for the Haemate P® Surgical Study Group. von Willebrand factor/factor VIII concentrate (Haemate P®) dosing based on pharmacokinetics: a prospective multicenter trial in elective surgery. J Thromb Haemost. 2007;5(7):1420-1430.
  7. Thompson AR, Gill JC, Ewenstein BM, Mueller-Velten G, Schwartz BA; Humate-P Study Group. Successful treatment for patients with von Willebrand disease undergoing urgent surgery using factor VIII/VWF concentrate (Humate-P). Haemophilia. 2004;10(1):42-51.

Important Safety Information for Stimate

Stimate Nasal Spray is indicated for patients with hemophilia A with Factor VIII coagulant activity levels greater than 5%. Desmopressin acetate is not indicated for the treatment of hemophilia A with Factor VIII coagulant activity levels equal to or less than 5%, or for the treatment of hemophilia B, or in patients who have Factor VIII antibodies.

Stimate® Nasal Spray is indicated for patients with mild to moderate classic type 1 von Willebrand disease (VWD) with Factor VIII levels greater than 5%. Stimate® Nasal Spray is not indicated for the treatment of severe classic VWD (Type I) and when there is evidence of an abnormal molecular form of Factor VIII antigen.

Stimate® Nasal Spray is contraindicated if you have a known hypersensitivity to desmopressin or any of the components of Stimate. Stimate should not be used by patients with type 2B VWD, since platelet aggregation may be induced. Stimate Nasal Spray is for intranasal use only.

To reduce the potential for water intoxication or hyponatremia, especially in the young and the elderly, patients using desmopressin may be advised to reduce fluid intake, ingesting only enough to satisfy thirst. Your doctor will monitor for a rare occurrence of an extreme decrease in plasma osmolality that could result in seizures, possibly leading to coma.

Other adverse reactions reported with use of injectable and/or intranasal desmopressin acetate include headache, nausea, somnolence (sleepiness), dizziness, chest pain, palpitations and tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), and severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. See full prescribing information for a complete list of adverse reactions.

Please see full prescribing information.

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.


Important Safety Information for Humate-P

Antihemophilic Factor/von Willebrand Factor Complex (Human), Humate-P® is approved to treat and prevent bleeding in adult patients with hemophilia A (classical hemophilia). Humate-P also treats spontaneous or trauma-induced bleeding episodes in adults and children with von Willebrand disease (VWD) and prevents excessive bleeding during and after surgery in patients with mild, moderate or severe VWD. Humate-P is not known to prevent spontaneous bleeding episodes.

Do not take Humate-P if you have had extreme sensitivity or an allergic response to antihemophilic or von Willebrand factor preparations. Your doctor will monitor you for events related to abnormal blood clotting.

Humate-P is made from human blood and could contain infectious agents. The risk that these agents may transmit disease cannot be completely eliminated, but has been reduced by screening plasma donors and testing donated plasma for certain viruses, and by inactivating and/or removing viruses during manufacturing.

In studies, more than 5% of patients reported the following adverse reactions to Humate-P: allergic/anaphylactic reactions, including hives, chest tightness, rash, itching, and swelling. The most common adverse reactions after surgery were bleeding at the wound or infusion site, and nosebleeds.

Please see full prescribing information.

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.