Two decades of pharmacovigilance and clinical experience with highly purified rabies immunoglobulin F(ab')2 fragments.

INTRODUCTION: Rabies is a worldwide zoonotic viral disease with no specific treatment once symptoms occur; manifest disease is almost always fatal. WHO recommendations for exposed individuals include immediate attention to the wound and use of rabies immunoglobulin and/or vaccine for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Here, we provide an overview of the clinical experience with a highly purified preparation of F(ab')2 fragments from equine rabies immunoglobulin (F(ab')2 pERIG; FavirabTM) in rabies PEP. Areas covered: Our review comprises a retrospective analysis of adverse event reports in the Sanofi Pasteur global pharmacovigilance database for F(ab')2 pERIG, including adverse event reports from eight Sanofi Pasteur-sponsored clinical trials and post-market surveillance data collected between 1995 and 2014. The general safety profile of F(ab')2 pERIG is discussed, as are the occurrence of rare anaphylactic reactions, and suspected intervention failure. Expert commentary: Over 20 years of clinical development and post-licensure experience has established the safety and effectiveness of F(ab')2 pERIG (FavirabTM) in rabies PEP.

Multipurpose solutions and contact lens: modulation of cytotoxicity and apoptosis on the ocular surface.

PURPOSE: We evaluated (1) 4 multipurpose lens care solutions and 3 contact lenses (soft and rigid) for cytotoxicity according to ISO 10993-5 standard (medical device biocompatibility) and (2) the protective effects of a marine cationic solution and hyaluronic acid. METHODS: Low water soft lens, high water soft lens, and rigid lens were laid on a conjunctival cell line after being soaked in multipurpose solution (Optifree Express, Renu, Solocare Aqua, or Menicare Plus). Cell morphology was microscopically observed, and cell viability was evaluated using the neutral red test. Apoptosis was assessed after direct contact of multipurpose solutions (MPS) with conjunctival cells using fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. The ability of a controlled ionization marine solution and hyaluronic acid to prevent multipurpose solution's cytotoxicity was finally evaluated. RESULTS: Contact lenses soaked in the MPS induced cell morphology alterations and loss of cell viability. Rinsing the lens with the marine solution improved cell viability and preincubating cells with hyaluronic acid inhibited apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: MPS can be damaging for the ocular surface cells. We proposed to rinse the lens with a marine solution before insertion of the lens on the cornea to wash away the multipurpose solution and to use hyaluronic acid to protect the ocular surface cells against apoptosis induced by MPS.