Hansa Biopharma, “Hansa” (NASDAQ Stockholm: HNSA), a pioneer in enzyme technology for rare immunological conditions, today announces that it has attained reimbursement in the Czech Republic for its first-in-class treatment, Idefirix ®, for the desensitization treatment of highly sensitized adult patients prior to kidney transplant from a deceased donor.1,2
Between January and October 2022, a total of 386 kidney transplants from deceased donors were performed in the Czech Republic, while approximately 400 patients remained on the kidney transplant waiting list.3 Highly sensitized patients have antibodies with a broad reactivity against a wide pool of potential donors,4 so finding a matched organ for these patients is particularly challenging. As a result, highly sensitized patients end up spending a longer than average time on transplant waiting lists with an increased risk of dying while waiting for a compatible donor.5,6 The decision to implement Idefirix® marks an important milestone for highly sensitized patients in the Czech Republic as they may now be desensitized using Idefirix® to enable kidney transplantation.
“We welcome this important decision and look forward to the positive impact that Idefirix® is expected to now make in clinical practice” says Professor Ondrej Viklicky, Head Transplant Center, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague. “Highly sensitized patients are often left with no option but to remain on long-term dialysis, which lowers their quality of life and increases the risk of mortality and hospitalization. For those less likely to receive an organ offer due to their immunological status, there is now the opportunity to be treated with Idefirix® to enable kidney transplant, freeing them from dialysis.”
“We are very pleased to see that Idefirix® is now reimbursed in the Czech Republic for the treatment of highly sensitized kidney patients. These patients have a serious disease burden and unmet needs and this decision is a significant milestone for them”, says Søren Tulstrup, President and CEO, Hansa Biopharma. “For Hansa, this decision is well aligned with our vision: A world where patients with rare immunologic diseases can lead long and healthy lives.”
