What is Kogenate®?

Kogenate® is an antihemophilic factor, or recombinate, drug used to treat individuals with hemophilia A. The drug acts by raising the amount of a protein in the blood called factor VIII, which in turn helps increase the blood's ability to form clots. It can be administered to adults or children.

Recombinate drugs such as Kogenate® can be used in the treatment of individuals going through episodes of chronic bleeding, such as nosebleeds, or as a preventative. Individuals with hemophilia who undergo surgery or invasive dental work can be at a high risk for severe blood loss, either during the procedure or following it. Kogenate® can be administered prior to the procedure to help stop excessive bleeding throughout the operation and afterward, allowing the area around incisions to clot faster. Repeated doses administered while the patient is healing can help prevent internal bleeding from around incisions or help keep dental incisions clotting properly when the patient is eating and drinking again. Prolonged administration of Kogenate® can result in the individual building up a tolerance for it, so it is typically given for short-term conditions.

Side effects are usually mild, and can include a fever, dizziness, or headache. Kogenate® is given via injection, so there are often reactions typical to any procedure where there is an injection or blood draw. These include soreness, bruising, redness, or itching around the site where the medication is given; this is usually brief. Severe side effects such as chest pain and difficulty breathing should be reported to a health professional immediately.

Like other recombinate drugs, Kogenate® is not prescribed for von Willebrand disease. In von Willebrand, there is another protein absent from the blood, causing difficulties in blood clotting. Even though the symptoms are the same as hemophilia, the cause is different, and other medications must be used.

The dosage of the drug depends on several factors, including the weight of the individual receiving it and the event it is going to be used to manage. Small injuries and minor surgical procedures require much smaller doses to get the desired effect, while major or invasive surgery requires larger amounts of the drug in order to achieve satisfactory clotting results. No matter what the amount, Kogenate® is typically given in its entirety in less than 10 minutes. The blood of the patient is typically tested throughout a prolonged period of administering the drug to make sure that the body is not building up a resistance to it.