Approved & therapeutic
Ecallantide
Kalbitor
Ecallantide is a 60-amino-acid recombinant protein and selective plasma kallikrein inhibitor, approved for acute attacks of hereditary angioedema in patients twelve years and older.
Also known as: DX-88
- Status
- Ecallantide is approved by the U.S. FDA and has official prescribing information.
- Evidence
- Approved labeling. Official prescribing information exists, based on clinical trials in people.
- Half-life
- Approximately 2 hours.
- How it's taken
- Subcutaneous injection administered by a healthcare professional
- Mechanism
- Other
How Ecallantide works
Hereditary angioedema attacks are driven by unchecked bradykinin generation. Plasma kallikrein cleaves high-molecular-weight kininogen to release bradykinin, which causes the vascular permeability and swelling of an attack. Ecallantide inhibits plasma kallikrein directly, cutting bradykinin production at its source. It was engineered by phage display from a human protein scaffold.
What research has looked at
- Treats acute hereditary angioedema attacks at any anatomical site, including laryngeal attacks.
- It targets kallikrein rather than replacing C1 esterase inhibitor, so it works irrespective of the underlying C1-INH defect.
- Subcutaneous administration, without the venous access required for C1-INH concentrate.
Evidence level: Approved labeling. Official prescribing information exists, based on clinical trials in people. These are areas studied or reported, not promised effects.
Reported side effects and risks
- Boxed warning for anaphylaxis, reported in roughly 4 percent of patients in trials. It must be administered by a healthcare professional equipped to manage anaphylaxis, which materially limits its practicality compared with self-administered alternatives.
- Because anaphylaxis and hereditary angioedema attacks can present similarly, distinguishing them is difficult and clinically consequential.
- Antibody formation to ecallantide occurs and may correlate with hypersensitivity risk on re-exposure.
- Headache, nausea, fatigue, diarrhea and injection-site reactions.
- It is not approved for prophylaxis, only for acute attacks.
Sources
- FDA approved-drug listing for ecallantide · U.S. Food & Drug Administration
- DailyMed prescribing information for ecallantide · NIH · DailyMed
- PubMed research on ecallantide kallikrein hereditary angioedema · NIH · National Library of Medicine
- DrugBank record for ecallantide · DrugBank
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Related compounds
Ecallantide FAQ
What is Ecallantide?
Ecallantide is a 60-amino-acid recombinant protein and selective plasma kallikrein inhibitor, approved for acute attacks of hereditary angioedema in patients twelve years and older.
How does Ecallantide work?
Hereditary angioedema attacks are driven by unchecked bradykinin generation. Plasma kallikrein cleaves high-molecular-weight kininogen to release bradykinin, which causes the vascular permeability and swelling of an attack. Ecallantide inhibits plasma kallikrein directly, cutting bradykinin production at its source. It was engineered by phage display from a human protein scaffold.
Is Ecallantide FDA approved?
Yes. Ecallantide is approved by the U.S. FDA and has official prescribing information. Evidence level: approved labeling. Official prescribing information exists, based on clinical trials in people.
What is the half-life of Ecallantide?
Reported half-life: Approximately 2 hours.
How is Ecallantide taken?
Subcutaneous injection administered by a healthcare professional.
What side effects have been reported with Ecallantide?
Reported in the sources: Boxed warning for anaphylaxis, reported in roughly 4 percent of patients in trials. It must be administered by a healthcare professional equipped to manage anaphylaxis, which materially limits its practicality compared with self-administered alternatives; Because anaphylaxis and hereditary angioedema attacks can present similarly, distinguishing them is difficult and clinically consequential; Antibody formation to ecallantide occurs and may correlate with hypersensitivity risk on re-exposure; Headache, nausea, fatigue, diarrhea and injection-site reactions; It is not approved for prophylaxis, only for acute attacks.
Educational summary compiled from the sources listed above. Not medical advice. Peptide Vault does not sell, source or recommend any compound. Talk to a qualified clinician before starting or changing anything.