Von Willebrand disease, or VWD, affects about 1% of the American population, but until recently, there was no dedicated therapy to treat it.
If you’re unfamiliar with this rare disease, VWD is a bleeding disorder similar to hemophilia.
Patients have frequent nose bleeds, bruise easily, and suffer from heavy bleeding after some routine surgical procedures, like having a tooth extracted. Women with VWD can suffer from excessively heavy menstrual periods.
Recently, the FDA approved Vonvendi® [Von Willebrand factor (Recombinant)], a Baxalta product. Clinical trials confirmed Vonvendi is safe for on-demand treatment of bleeding episodes and is effective in controlling bleeds from different areas of the body. It’s indicated for patients 18 years of age or older.
