SÃO PAULO, SP (FOLHAPRESS) - Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency) approved this Monday (20) the expansion of the use of two medications for pediatric patients: Benlysta (belimumab), for lupus, and Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), for multiple sclerosis.
Anvisa expands the use of medicines for lupus and sclerosis in children
SÃO PAULO, SP (FOLHAPRESS) - Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency) approved this Monday (20) the expansion of the use of two medications for pediatric patients: Benlysta (belimumab), for lupus, and Ocrevus...
Benlysta is now approved for children aged five years and over and adolescents with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), as adjuvant therapy.
The approval only applies to applicator and auto-injector pen presentations, and is restricted to patients with a high degree of disease activity who are already receiving standard treatment with corticosteroids, antimalarials, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or other immunosuppressants.
The intravenous formulation of the medicine was already approved for pediatric use. The new subcutaneous option may reduce the need to travel to infusion centers.
Pediatric SLE is a chronic autoimmune disease that tends to have greater inflammatory activity and a greater risk of organ damage over time compared to the disease in adults.
Ocrevus, indicated for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), is a recombinant monoclonal antibody that reduces the inflammatory activity associated with the disease. The medicine is now recommended for patients aged 12 or over and with a body weight of 40 kg or more.
Multiple sclerosis is considered rare in children and adolescents, accounting for around 3% to 5% of cases of the disease. Although less frequent than in adults, it tends to present significant inflammatory activity and a higher frequency of outbreaks in younger patients, with a possible impact on cognitive, educational and social development.
It is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, which affects the brain and spinal cord. In Brazil, it is estimated that around 15 people for every 100,000 inhabitants live with the disease.
It occurs when the immune system itself starts attacking structures of the nervous system, causing inflammation and injuries that hinder communication between neurons.
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Source: Noticias ao Minuto - Ultima Hora
This story was originally published by Noticias ao Minuto - Ultima Hora. Visit the original publication for further details.
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