Rabies Immune Globulin

Generic name: human rabies virus immune globulin
Dosage form: injection, solution
Drug class:Immune globulins

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jan 1, 2021.

AHFS Category: 80:04

RIG

Rx only

FOR WOUND INFILTRATION AND INTRAMUSCULAR USE ONLY

Rabies Immune Globulin Description

Rabies Immune Globulin (Human) USP, Heat Treated, Imogam® Rabies – HT, is a sterile solution of antirabies immunoglobulin (10-16% protein) for wound infiltration and intramuscular administration. Rabies Immune Globulin (RIG) is prepared by cold alcohol fractionation from pooled venous plasma of individuals immunized with Rabies Vaccine prepared from human diploid cells (HDCV). The product is stabilized with 0.3 M glycine. The immune globulin solution has a pH of 6.8 ± 0.4 adjusted with sodium hydroxide or hydrochloric acid. No preservatives are added. Imogam Rabies – HT is a clear or slightly opalescent, colorless or pale-yellow or light-brown liquid. During storage it may show formation of slight turbidity or a small amount of visible particulate matter.

A heat-treatment process step (58° to 60°C, 10 hours) to inactivate viruses is used to further reduce any risk of blood-borne viral transmission. The inactivation and removal of model laboratory strains of enveloped and non-enveloped viruses during the manufacturing and heat treatment processes for Imogam Rabies – HT have been validated by spiking experiments.

Human immunodeficiency virus, type 1 (HIV-1) and type 2 (HIV-2) were selected as relevant viruses for plasma derived products. Bovine viral diarrhea virus and Sindbis virus were chosen to model hepatitis C virus. Porcine pseudorabies virus was selected to model hepatitis B virus and herpes virus. Avian reovirus was used to model non-enveloped RNA viruses and for its relative resistance to inactivation by chemical and physical methods. Finally, porcine parvovirus was selected to model human parvovirus B19 and its notable resistance to inactivation by heat treatment.

Removal and/or inactivation of the spiked model viruses was demonstrated at the precipitation III stage of manufacturing. In addition, inactivation was demonstrated to occur during the 10-hour (58° to 60°C) heat treatment process for the representative enveloped and non-enveloped viruses.