Ecallantide
Also known as: Kalbitor, DX-88
A recombinant plasma kallikrein inhibitor protein, FDA-approved in 2009 as Kalbitor for acute hereditary angioedema attacks. Prescription medication.
Last updated
Mechanism of Action
Ecallantide is a 60-amino-acid recombinant protein, a Kunitz-domain inhibitor discovered by phage display and produced in yeast. It binds plasma kallikrein reversibly and with high potency, blocking cleavage of high-molecular-weight kininogen into bradykinin. Excess bradykinin drives the vascular leakage and swelling of hereditary angioedema attacks, so inhibiting kallikrein during an attack limits further bradykinin production.
- Half-life
- ~2 hours
- Administration Routes
- Subcutaneous
- Research Status
- Clinical
Reported Benefits
- FDA-approved for acute attacks of hereditary angioedema in patients aged 12 and older
- Improved symptom scores versus placebo in the EDEMA3 and EDEMA4 phase 3 trials
- Used for attacks at any site, including laryngeal attacks
Potential Side Effects
- Boxed warning: anaphylaxis, so it is given only by a healthcare professional
- Headache
- Nausea, fatigue and diarrhea
- Injection-site reactions
- Fever and upper respiratory infection
Common Dosing
Labeled dosing is 30 mg given subcutaneously as three injections by a healthcare professional during an attack, with one additional dose allowed within 24 hours if the attack continues. Because of the anaphylaxis risk, patients are observed after the injection. Dosing is set and supervised by the prescribing clinician.
The dosing information above is aggregated from research literature and anecdotal community reports for educational purposes only. It is not a recommendation, prescription, or medical advice. Peptides are sold as research chemicals only and are not intended for human use.
Contraindications
- Known hypersensitivity to ecallantide
- Must be given in a setting able to manage anaphylaxis
No documented stacking partners for Ecallantide yet.