Poractant alfa

Poractant alfa is a pulmonary surfactant sold under the brand name Curosurf by Chiesi Farmaceutici. Poractant alfa is an extract of natural porcine lung surfactant.

Pharmacology
Poractant alfa is measured into vials of 80 mg of surfactant (extract) that includes 76 mg of phospholipids and 1 mg of protein of which 0.2 mg is surfactant protein B (SP-B).

The amount of phospholipids is calculated from the content of phosphorus and contains 55 mg of phosphotidylcholine of which 30 mg is dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine.

Pulmonary hemorrhage
Pulmonary hemorrhage is a known complication of premature birth and very low birth-weight.

Other adverse effects
Transient episodes of bradycardia, decreased oxygen saturation, hypotension, or endotracheal tube blockage may occur.

Mechanism of action
Endogenous pulmonary surfactant reduces surface tension at the air-liquid interface of the alveoli during mechanical ventilation and stabilizes the alveoli against collapse at resting transpulmonary pressures.

A deficiency of pulmonary surfactant in preterm infants results in respiratory distress syndrome. Poractant alfa compensates for the surfactant deficiency and restores surface activity to the lung tissue.

Pharmacodynamics
Currently there is no human pharmacokinetic information available, only animal models have been published.