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. As with other surfactants, marked improvement on oxygenation may occur within minutes of the administration of poractant alfa. The new generic form of surfactant is SLS (Sheep Lung Surfactant) developed in PersisGen Co. and commercialized by ArnaGen Pharmad. It has fully comparable quality profile with Curosurf.

Poractant alfa
Clinical data
Trade namesCurosurf
AHFS/Drugs.comMonograph
Pregnancy
category
  • N
Routes of
administration		endotracheal
ATC code
  • none
Legal status
Legal status
Identifiers
CAS Number
ChemSpider
  • none
KEGG

Pharmacology

Each milliliter of poractant alfa contains 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). Depending on local country registration, CUROSURF is available in 1.5mL vials, 3.0mL vials, and/or twin packs containing two 1.5mL vials.

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

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.[1]

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.

References
  1. Ainsworth SB, Beresford MW, Milligan DW, et al, “Pumactant and Poractant Alfa for Treatment of Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Neonates Born at 25-29 Weeks' Gestation: A Randomised Trial, Lancet, 2000, 355(9213):1387-92.

As with other surfactants, marked improvements in oxygenation may occur within minutes of the administration of Curosurf.

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