Alglucosidase alfa

Alglucosidase alfa (Lumizyme, Myozyme, Genzyme) is an enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) orphan drug for treatment of Pompe disease (Glycogen storage disease type II), a rare lysosomal storage disorder (LSD). Chemically speaking, the drug is an analog of the enzyme that is deficient in patients affected by Pompe disease, alpha-glucosidase. It is the first drug available to treat this disease.

Status
Orphan drug pharmaceutical company, Genzyme, markets alglucosidase alfa as "Myozyme". In 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Myozyme as a suitable ERT treatment for children. Some health plans have refused to subsidize Myozyme for adult patients because it lacks approval for treatment in adults, as well as its high cost (US$300,000/yr for life).

Side effects
Common observed adverse reactions to alglucosidase alfa treatment are pneumonia, respiratory complications, infections and fever. More serious reactions reported include heart and lung failure and allergic shock. Myozyme boxes carry warnings regarding the possibility of life-threatening allergic response.