The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced the approval of Lumizyme (alglucosidase alfa) for treatment of patients with infantile-onset Pompe disease, including patients who are less than 8 years of age. In addition, the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) known as the Lumizyme ACE (Alglucosidase Alfa Control and Education) Program is being eliminated. 

Pompe disease is a rare genetic disorder and occurs in an estimated 1 in every 40,000 to 300,000 births. Its primary symptom is heart and skeletal muscle weakness, progressing to respiratory weakness and death from respiratory failure.

The disease causes gene mutations to prevent the body from making enough of the functional form of an enzyme called acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA). This enzyme is necessary for proper muscle functioning. GAA is used by the heart and muscle cells to convert a form of sugar called glycogen into energy. Without the enzyme action, glycogen builds up in the cells and, ultimately, weakens the heart and muscles. Lumizyme is believed to work by replacing the deficient GAA, thereby reducing the accumulated glycogen in heart and skeletal muscle cells.

Lumizyme, a lysosomal glycogen-specific enzyme, was approved by the FDA in 2010 with a REMS to restrict its use to treatment of patients with late (non-infantile) onset Pompe disease who are 8 years of age and older. The REMS was required to mitigate the potential risk of rapid disease progression in the infantile-onset Pompe disease patients and patients with late  onset disease less than 8 years of age, and to communicate the risks of anaphylaxis, severe allergic reactions and severe skin and systemic immune mediated reactions to prescribers and patients.

For more details, go to: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm407563.htm?source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery