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Are IVIG Products Interchangeable?

Woman sitting in armchair while receiving IVIG infusion

Though intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) products are equally efficacious, and all work to normalize the overactive or compromised immune system, they are not interchangeable, unlike typical generic drugs. Every IVIG brand is different in terms of composition, purification, and approved treatment for different medical conditions.

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For example, Gamunex and Privigen are both IVIG products used to treat chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). However, both products are manufactured by different pharmaceutical companies and have different characteristics such as composition, purification, formulation, and tolerability profiles. 

Patients who experience a reaction to Gamunex may not have any reactions to Privigen with a different preparation. For this reason,  IVIG products are considered non-interchangeable.  

This article highlights key factors that further explain why IVIG products are not interchangeable. 

What Are IVIG Products?

IVIG products are primarily biological agents that consist of a concentrated solution of immunoglobulins (antibodies) derived from the human plasma of thousands of healthy donors. 

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved around ten IVIG products so far for the treatment of autoimmune and immunodeficiency disorders, which are as follows: 

  1. Asceniv
  2. Bivigam
  3. Carimune NF, Nanofiltered
  4. Flebogamma DIF 5% and 10%
  5. Gammagard Liquid and Gammagard S/D
  6. Gammaplex 5% and 10%
  7. Gamunex-C, Gammaked
  8. Octagam
  9. Panzyga
  10. Privigen

Each product is indicated for the treatment of various disorders caused by immune system dysfunction. Different pharmaceutical companies manufacture these IVIG products according to their standard manufacturing protocol, which makes the IVIG products universally not interchangeable.  

Why Are IVIG Products Not Interchangeable?

3D illustration of antibodies


There are several key factors that make IVIG products non-interchangeable. 

Composition

The composition of IVIG products typically varies among the IVIG brands. Each IVIG product can have a specific immunoglobulin (antibody) type and concentration. For example, our body typically has five types of immunoglobulins: IgG, IgA, IgE, IgM, and IgD.

Among the immunoglobulins, IgG is the most abundant antibody in the human plasma and is a principal component of all IVIG products (present in 95% of the concentration).  

Other antibodies, such as IgA and IgM, are present in trace amounts in IVIG products. 

The primary antibody (IgG) also has four sub-types (IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4), and it is possible that different IVIG products may contain varying proportions of IgG subclasses, IgA and IgM. This may also make IVIG products different in terms of their antigen specificity. 

For example, if a patient has IgA antibodies, IVIG products with a low proportion of IgA, like Flebogamma or Gammagard S/D, may be prescribed. However, if a patient with IgA antibodies also has diabetes, then the IVIG product Gammagard S/D could be potentially life-threatening to diabetic patients as it contains glucose as a stabilizing agent.

Purification Process

Pharmaceutical companies may use slightly different purification methods (such as fractionation, precipitation, and chromatography) to purify the immunoglobulins from human plasma. Variations in the purification methods may influence the levels of impurities, such as aggregates, antibodies against blood group antigens, and cytokines, which may affect the safety and tolerability of the final IVIG product. 

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Formulation

The formulation of IVIG products also differs in terms of pH, stabilizers, and osmolality. For example, IVIG brands like Gammagard S/D contain sugar (such as glucose) as a stabilizer and higher sodium content, which is not recommended for patients with diabetes, heart disease, or kidney disease. In contrast, Gammagard liquid does not contain any sugar or sodium content. 

Though both IVIG products treat primary humoral immunodeficiency (PI) in adult and pediatric patients 2 years or older, they differ in sugar content, sodium content, pH levels, and osmolality (See Table 1). 

Hence, these variations in the formulation of IVIG products influence their stability, shelf-life, and compatibility with patient physiology. 

Since each product has a different formulation, it is recommended to consult your doctor before switching between IVIG products.

Table 1: IVIG Product Formulations

IVIG productsIgA ContentStabilizerpHOsmolalitySugar & Sodium content
Gammagard Liquid (10% solution)Average 37µg/mLGlycine (300 mM)4.6-5.1240-300 mOsmol/kgNo sugar
No sodium
Gammagard S/D<1µg/mLGlycine (250 mM)
Glucose (3g/dL)
6.4-7.2636 mOsmol/kgGlucose (2 g/dL)
Gammaplex 10%<20µg/mLGlycine (200-300mM)4.9-5.2>240 mOsmol/kgNo sucrose or maltose
Sodium: <30 mEq/L
Bivigam®≤200µg/mLGlycine (200-290mM)4.0-4.6510 mOsmol/kgNo sugar
Sodium: 100-140 mEq/L
Flebogamma 5%<50µg/mLD-sorbitol (5 g/dL)5.0-6.0240-370 mOsmol/kgD-sorbitol (5g/dL)
Sodium: trace amount
Flebogamma 10%<100µg/mLD-sorbitol (5 g/dL)5.0-6.0240-370 mOsmol/kgD-sorbitol (5g/dL)
Sodium: trace amount
Gamunex46 µg/mLGlycine (160-250mM)4.0-4.5258 mOsmol/kgNo sugar
Sodium: Trace amount
Octagam≤200 µg/mLMaltose (10 g/dL)5.1-6.0310- 380 mOsmol/kMaltose
Sodium: <30 mEq/L
PanzygaAverage 100 µg/mLGlycine (200-260 mM)4.5-5.0240-310 mOsmol/kgNo sucrose
Sodium: Trace amount
Privigen≤25 µg/mLL-proline (250 mM)4.6-5.0240-440 mOsmol/kgNo sugar
Sodium: Trace amount

Conclusion

Unlike generic drugs, IVIG products are not interchangeable. Each IVIG product has a different composition (immunoglobulin concentration), undergoes a different purification process, and has a different formulation (stabilizer, pH, osmolality, or sodium content). 
 

REFERENCES:

  1. Stacy Ness, P. D. (2019). Intravenous and Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin Treatment Options. Www.ajmc.com, 25. https://www.ajmc.com/view/intravenous-and-subcutaneous-immunoglobulin-treatment-options
  2. Arumugham, V. B., & Rayi, A. (2020). Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG). PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554446/
  3. Taking intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) product characteristics into consideration. https://www.gammagard.com/Content/hcp/pdf/product-characteristics.pdf
  4. Blood Transfusion: Intravenous Immunoglobulin Guideline. Www.rch.org.au. https://www.rch.org.au/bloodtrans/about_blood_products/Intravenous_Immunoglobulin_Guideline/#:~:text=IVIg%20products%20and%20presentations%20are%20not%20interchangeable.&text=Each%20product%20has%20different%20formulations
  5. Hooper, J. A. (2015). The history and evolution of immunoglobulin products and their clinical indications. LymphoSign Journal, 2(4), 181–194. https://doi.org/10.14785/lpsn-2014-0025
  6. Misbah, S. A. (2013). Should Therapeutic Immunoglobulin Be Considered a Generic Product? An Evidence-based Approach. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, 1(6), 567-572. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaip.2013.09.009
This information is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Talk to your doctor or healthcare provider about your medical condition prior to starting any new treatment. AmeriPharma™ Specialty Care assumes no liability whatsoever for the information provided or for any diagnosis or treatment made as a result, nor is it responsible for the reliability of the content. AmeriPharma™ Specialty Care does not operate all the websites/organizations listed here, nor is it responsible for the availability or reliability of their content. These listings do not imply or constitute an endorsement, sponsorship, or recommendation by AmeriPharma™ Specialty Care. This webpage may contain references to brand-name prescription drugs that are trademarks or registered trademarks of pharmaceutical manufacturers not affiliated with AmeriPharma™ Specialty Care.
MEDICALLY REVIEWED BY Dr. Christine Leduc, PharmD

Dr. Christine Leduc, PharmD, was born and raised in Irvine, CA. She attended college at Midwestern University, where she graduated cum laude. The most rewarding part of her job is suggesting lifestyle changes, educating patients on how their medication works, and precepting future pharmacists. Her areas of expertise are customer service and knowledge of specialty medication. Having worked in the service industry in the past, she has gained the customer service skills necessary to understand the needs of her patients. Dr. Leduc is currently precepting students from Marshall B. Ketchum University, University of Kansas, and Midwestern University. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, baking, and gardening. See Author Biography

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