Wainua
Wainua (eplontersen) is approved for adults to treat polyneuropathy or nerve damage from a rare genetic problem called hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis (hATTR). This medication is an antisense therapeutic that's given as an injection under the skin once per month. It's convenient because it comes as an autoinjector that can be used at home. Potential side effects include lower vitamin A levels and vomiting.
What is Wainua (eplontersen)?
What is Wainua (eplontersen) used for?
- Polyneuropathy from hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis (hATTR)
How Wainua (eplontersen) works
The transthyretin (TTR) gene tells the body to make the TTR protein to help carry vitamin A and thyroid hormone around.
People with hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis (hATTR) have a mutated version of the TTR gene that tells the body to make abnormal TTR protein. These abnormal TTR proteins clump together in clusters called amyloid fibrils, which travel throughout your body and cause damage to your organs and nerves.
Wainua (eplontersen) is an antisense therapeutic. It works by breaking down mutated versions of the TTR gene in the body. This lessens the amount of abnormal TTR proteins made, which lessens the amount of amyloid fibrils that can cause damage to the body.
Drug facts
Side effects of Wainua (eplontersen)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Drop in vitamin A levels (15%)
- Vomiting (9%)
- High amount of protein in the urine (8%)
- Injection site reactions (e.g., redness, pain, itching; 7%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Blurry vision
- Cataract
Wainua (eplontersen) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Trouble seeing at night or in dim light
- Other vision problems
The following Wainua (eplontersen) side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Low vitamin A level—change in vision, dry eyes, dry skin, frequent infections
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Blurry vision
- Pain, redness, or irritation at injection site
- Vomiting
Pros and cons of Wainua (eplontersen)
Pros
- Works well to lower TTR levels and improve nerve pain from hATTR
- Injected once per month
- Can inject at home (after training from a healthcare professional)
Cons
- Needs to be given as an injection under the skin
- Might be difficult for some people to inject properly
- Doesn't cure hATTR
Pharmacist tips for Wainua (eplontersen)
- Inject Wainua (eplontersen) under the skin once every month. To help you remember when to inject your medication, you can write your injection dates on your calendar or use a reminder app on your phone.
- Ask your prescriber if you should take a vitamin A supplement since Wainua (eplontersen) can lower your vitamin A levels. You can also eat foods high in vitamin A to help maintain your vitamin levels. Check with your prescriber about how much vitamin A you need per day, especially if you're already taking supplements that contain vitamin A or beta-carotene.
- Keep the Wainua (eplontersen) autoinjectors in the refrigerator and in the original box to protect it from light (don't freeze). You can store the syringes in the original box at room temperature for up to 6 weeks, but don't let them reach temperatures above 86 degrees Fahrenheit. After 6 weeks at room temperature, throw the autoinjectors away into a sharps container.
- Tell your prescriber if you're pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. Wainua (eplontersen) can potentially harm babies if taken during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
How to use Wainua (eplontersen) at home:
- Make sure a healthcare professional teaches you how to give yourself Wainua (eplontersen) injections properly and safely. Read the instructions on how to inject the medication under your skin. Ask your prescriber or pharmacist if you have any questions about how to use Wainua (eplontersen).
- Before each injection, take the Wainua (eplontersen) box out of the refrigerator and place it on a flat surface so it can warm up to room temperature. This will take about 30 minutes. Don't try to warm it up any other way, like with a microwave or hot water, because it can damage your medication.
- Always check that the medication is clear and colorless to yellow before you inject Wainua (eplontersen). Don't use the autoinjector if you see that the medication is cloudy, discolored, or has particles in it. Air bubbles are normal.
- Wash your hands with soap and water and clean the area you'll inject into with an alcohol swab before injecting Wainua (eplontersen). This will help prevent infection.
- Where to inject: Inject Wainua (eplontersen) under the skin into the stomach (at least 2 inches away from the belly button) or the front of the thigh. If someone is helping you to inject the medication, you can also choose to inject it under the skin on back of the upper arm. Don't inject into skin that's damaged, scarred, bruised, tender, red, or hard to prevent more skin irritation.
- How to inject: Place the orange needle shield at a 90-degree angle against your skin with the viewing window facing you. Then, push down firmly and hold the autoinjector in place against your skin for 10 seconds to make sure you get the full dose. You'll hear a click when the injection starts. You might hear a second click as the injection continues, but it doesn't mean that the injection is done. The injection is complete when you see the entire viewing window on the autoinjector is orange.
- After injecting Wainua (eplontersen), throw away the autoinjector in a sharps container or something made of heavy-duty plastic, such as an empty milk carton or laundry detergent bottle. This lowers the risk of needle-stick injuries. Don't place it into the household trash.
- Each Wainua (eplontersen) autoinjector is for a single use only, so you must throw it away after each use. Don't reuse autoinjectors.
Common questions about Wainua (eplontersen)
In a clinical study looking at how well the medication works, most people who took Wainua (eplontersen) for 2 years had a lower TTR levels in the body than those who took placebo (no medication). People who took the medication also reported having less neuropathy (nerve pain) and better quality of life after 2 years of treatment than people who didn't take medication. Follow up with your prescriber about your treatment progress with Wainua (eplontersen) and ask them if you have any concerns.
Hair loss wasn't a side effect that people who took Wainua (eplontersen) in clinical studies reported having. Contact your healthcare team if you notice hair loss while you're taking this medication so they can help you figure out possible causes.
Weight gain wasn't reported by people who took Wainua (eplontersen) during clinical studies. Talk to your care team if you notice concerning changes in your body weight after you start taking this medication.
It takes almost 4 months for most of Wainua (eplontersen) to leave your body after a single dose. This time frame is estimated based on the half-life of Wainua (eplontersen).
You'll probably need to take Wainua (eplontersen) for the rest of your life, as long as you're not having side effects from the medication and as long as it's helping your condition. Wainua (eplontersen) doesn't cure hATTR. But it helps manage nerve pain from the condition. Speak with your prescriber for more information about managing and treating hATTR.
Yes, you can give Wainua (eplontersen) injections to yourself at home after you get trained by a healthcare professional. You might get the first few injections at your prescriber's office or clinic to see how you react to the medication. Then, your prescriber will discuss with you about making arrangements for you to inject Wainua (eplontersen) at home if you're comfortable and if it's appropriate for you. Discuss with your prescriber about whether injecting Wainua (eplontersen) at home is an option for you.
All three medications are injections that can help treat nerve damage from hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis (hATTR). How each medication is given and how often they're needed are different. Wainua (eplontersen) is given as an injection under the skin once per month. It's autoinjector that you can use at home. Tegsedi (inotersen) is given as an injection under the skin once per week. You can also inject this medication at home but with a prefilled syringe. And Onpattro (patisiran) is an infusion that's given into the vein once every 3 weeks. It's given by a healthcare professional at a medical office or clinic. In addition, all three medications can possibly lower vitamin A levels. But unlike Wainua (eplontersen), Tegsedi (inotersen) has more serious risks, like bleeding and kidney problems, and Onpattro (patisiran) can cause infusion-related reactions. Speak with your prescriber about which option best fits your needs.
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Risks and warnings for Wainua (eplontersen)
Wainua (eplontersen) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Low vitamin A levels
Wainua (eplontersen) can lower the vitamin A levels in your blood. Vitamin A is important for your eye health, so having vision problems, like trouble seeing at night or in dim light and dry eye, can be an early sign of very low vitamin A. Let your prescriber know if you notice these eye problems while you're taking Wainua (eplontersen). You'll probably need to get your eyes checked.
During treatment, you might need to take a vitamin A supplement to prevent your levels from dropping too much. It also might be helpful to eat foods that are high in vitamin A. Ask your prescriber about how much vitamin A you need per day. It depends on how old you are, whether you're male or female, and whether you're pregnant or nursing. Don't take more than the maximum recommended daily dose of vitamin A for you to try and raise your vitamin A levels. This can lead to side effects like nausea, dizziness, or headache.
Wainua (eplontersen) dosage
Typical dosage for Wainua (eplontersen)
The typical dose is 45 mg injected under the skin once per month. It's injected into the stomach or upper thigh. The medication can also be injected into the back of the upper arm if someone else is helping you.
What are alternatives to Wainua (eplontersen)?
Wainua (eplontersen) images
