Monoclonal Antibody Therapy1
A monoclonal antibody therapy is the first and only approved medication to address hemolysis and its harmful effects in people with PNH. Although monoclonal antibody therapies may be used to treat other conditions, this specific treatment reduces hemolysis (the destruction of red blood cells), which is the underlying cause of the morbidities and mortality associated with PNH. It does this by stopping your body’s defense system from attacking the defective red blood cells that lack a protective protein. In doing so, monoclonal antibody therapy can help ease or eliminate common symptoms such as shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, stomach pain, and tiredness (fatigue). It can also reduce the need for transfusions and lessen the risk of developing life-threatening complications such as blood clots and damage to vital organs.
Side effects are generally mild and most frequently include headache, runny nose, back pain, nausea, and tiredness (fatigue). All medications can cause side effects but your doctor has prescribed this medication because the overall positive benefits from therapy outweigh the possible negative effects.
