From 1 March 2021, the imported intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) product, Octagam 10%, and a new imported subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIg) product, Cuvitru 20%, will be available to order from Australian Red Cross Lifeblood.

What will be changing?

Octagam, a 10% concentration IVIg product, and Cuvitru, a 20% concentration SCIg product, will be available under the National Blood Supply arrangements from 1 March 2021. This will be in addition to the currently available suite of imported IVIg products, namely Flebogamma 5%, Flebogamma 10%, Gamunex 10% and Privigen 10%, as well as the domestic IVIg product, Intragam 10, and the currently available SCIg products, Evogam 16% and Hizentra 20%. Further information on the outcomes of the NBA tender for imported Ig and the associated transition arrangements is available at https://www.blood.gov.au/new-imported-immunoglobulin-ig-supply-contracts.

Octagam® 10% (supplied by Octapharma) will be available in four vial sizes: 2g (20mL), 5g (50mL), 10g (100mL) and 20g (200mL). Cuvitru ® 20% (supplied by Takeda) will be available in four vial sizes: 1g (5mL), 2g (10mL), 4g (20mL) and 8g (40mL)

From 1 March 2021, Octagam 10% and Cuvitru 20% will be available in BloodSTAR for prescribers to select when submitting an authorisation request for IVIg and SCIg, respectively. Both products will also be available in BloodNet from 1 March 2021 for dispensers to order product from Lifeblood.