CHMP Positive for Deqsiga

The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted a positive opinion, recommending the granting of a marketing authorisation for the medicinal product Deqsiga, intended for replacement therapy in people with primary or secondary immunodeficiencies and immunomodulation in people with certain autoimmune diseases. The applicant for this medicinal product is Takeda Manufacturing Austria AG.

Deqsiga will be available as a 100 mg/ml solution for infusion. The active substance of Deqsiga is human normal immunoglobulin, (ATC code: J06BA02). Deqsiga contains mainly immunoglobulin G (IgG), with a broad spectrum of antibodies against infectious agents. Adequate doses of Deqsiga may restore abnormally low IgG levels to normal levels. Deqsiga also has immunomodulatory effects in patients with autoimmune diseases, although the mechanism of action is not fully understood.

Deqsiga is a duplicate of Kiovig (human normal immunoglobulin), which was authorised in the EU on 19 January 2006. Deqsiga and Kiovig have the same pharmaceutical form, active substance and indications, but Deqsiga contains lower levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA) and may therefore be more suitable for people with IgA deficiency who have a higher risk of hypersensitivity to immunoglobulin products that contain higher levels of IgA.

Because Deqsiga is a duplicate of Kiovig, its benefits and risks are expected to be the same as those of Kiovig. Therefore, the benefits of Deqsiga are expected to be normalising IgG levels in patients with primary or secondary immunodeficiencies, and relieving the symptoms of certain autoimmune diseases. Side effects with Deqsiga include chills, headache, dizziness, fever, vomiting, allergic reactions, nausea, arthralgia, low blood pressure and moderate low back pain, reversible haemolytic reactions.