Recombinant Factor Concentrate

Recombinant factor VIII, IX, and VIIa products have been available in the United States since the 1990s. Recombinant factor concentrate is made in a special way. Since this factor does not come from human blood, it does not contain viruses or unwanted proteins.

Most people with Hemophilia can use recombinant factor concentrate. People with VWD have to use factor concentrate that has VWF in it. This means that they cannot use the recombinant factor products used by people with Hemophilia. Those products only contain factor VIII or factor IX. They don’t have any von Willebrand factor. A recombinant von Willebrand factor has been made and tested successfully and is available for use in adults with VWD in United States.

NovoSeven® is the brand name for recombinant factor VIIa. It is licensed for the treatment of people with Hemophilia who have an inhibitor (antibody) against factor VIII or IX and to treat people with Glanzmann thrombasthenia. NovoSeven® does not last long in the body and is very expensive.