Rapid home therapy infusion of velaglucerase alfa in naïve patients with Gaucher disease.

Background: Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) has revolutionised the management of patients with Gaucher disease (GD). In 2018, we published the safety and efficacy of rapid 10-min infusion of velaglucerase alfa in previously treated patients, mostly on low-dose therapy.

Aim: To improve quality of life (QoL) for patients needing lifelong bi-weekly infusions by introducing a 10-min infusion instead of 1 h per label in patients naive to ERT and on high-dose therapy.

13,845 home therapy infusions with velaglucerase alfa exemplify safety of velaglucerase alfa and increased compliance to every-other-week intravenous enzyme replacement therapy for Gaucher disease.

Background: Lifelong intravenous (IV) enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) every other week for Gaucher disease is appreciated as decreasing quality of life in a palpable way.

Objective: To review the Israeli experience with the home therapy option for IV velaglucerase alfa (Shire, Lexington MA USA) infusions every-other-week in the clinical trial context, in the early access program (EAP) during a shortage with the standard commercial ERT, and currently with the commercially available drug (VPRIV, Shire).

Results: Among 24 patients participating in trials, 1654 infusions were at home; in the EAP and commercial setting, 12,191 infusions were performed at home for a total of 154 patients with 98.