vonicog alfa at a glance
Medicine class
Recombinant human von Willebrand factor replacement
Usual role
Controls or prevents bleeding in eligible people with von Willebrand disease
Administration
Slow intravenous infusion after reconstitution
Supervision
Treatment is overseen by a clinician experienced in bleeding disorders
What is vonicog alfa used for?
Licensed uses apply when desmopressin treatment alone is ineffective or contraindicated.
In adults: prevention and treatment of bleeding, including bleeding associated with surgery.
In children and adolescents: treatment of bleeding episodes. Prevention of bleeding and surgical use are not licensed for people under 18.
Vonicog alfa is not for treating haemophilia A.
How does vonicog alfa work?
Vonicog alfa replaces von Willebrand factor. It helps platelets attach at damaged blood vessels to form an initial clot and binds to factor VIII, protecting it from rapid breakdown and allowing its level to rise.
vonicog alfa preparations and strengths
Injection
Route: Parenteral
Strengths: 650 units, 1300 units
How to take vonicog alfa
It is reconstituted with the supplied water and infused slowly into a vein. Home administration should occur only after training by the haemophilia team. Use clean technique, gently swirl rather than shake, inspect for particles or discolouration, and use the prepared solution promptly. Use plastic syringes.
Follow the haemophilia centre's preparation and infusion instructions exactly.
Stop or slow the infusion and contact the treating team if an immediate reaction occurs.
Do not mix it with other products unless specifically directed by the specialist team.
vonicog alfa side effects
Common or expected effects
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness or vertigo
- Generalised itching
- Raised blood pressure
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe allergic or anaphylactic reaction
- Blood clot, including deep-vein thrombosis
- Development of von Willebrand factor inhibitors, which may reduce treatment effectiveness
- Bleeding that remains uncontrolled despite treatment
vonicog alfa in pregnancy
Experience with vonicog alfa during pregnancy is limited, so it should be used only when clearly indicated after specialist assessment. Von Willebrand disease increases bleeding risks around pregnancy and delivery; coordinated obstetric and haematology planning is important.
vonicog alfa while breastfeeding
It is unknown whether vonicog alfa passes into human milk. Use during breastfeeding should be considered only when clearly indicated, with the specialist balancing the expected benefit against potential uncertainty.
vonicog alfa interactions
No medicine interactions are known for human von Willebrand factor products, but the specialist team should review all medicines and clotting-factor products.
Factor VIII products containing von Willebrand factor
Combining these with vonicog alfa may add further von Willebrand factor and increase thrombotic risk; the product information specifies a pure factor VIII product when separate factor VIII is required.
Common questions about vonicog alfa
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What is vonicog alfa made from?
It is a purified recombinant form of human von Willebrand factor produced using recombinant DNA technology in Chinese hamster ovary cells.
Is vonicog alfa made from donated human plasma?
No. It is recombinant rather than plasma-derived, although the finished product contains trace amounts of some non-human mammalian proteins.
What is vonicog alfa used for in adults?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.