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. 2015 Jul 16;29(4):215–239. doi: 10.1007/s40259-015-0133-6

Table 4.

Fusion proteins currently approved for marketing

US trade name (generic name) Protein format Company Approval date (US) Molecular target Major indication Total sales in 2014 (in US$MM)a Innovative drug and year of approval
Enbrel® (etanercept) IgG1 Fc fused to p75 exo-domain of TNFR Immunex (now Amgen) Nov 2, 1998 TNF-α RA $8,888MM Innovative
Ontak® (denileukin diftitox) IL-2 fused to diphtheriotoxin; enzyme activity and membrane translocating domain Eisai Feb 5, 1999 IL-2 receptor Oncology No information available Biobetter of Proleukin® (aldesleukin; Chiron, 1992)
Amevive® (alefacept) CD2-binding domain of LFA-3-IgG1 Fc fusion protein Biogen Jan 30, 2003; withdrawn in 2011 Inhibits CD2-LFA-3 on activated T cells Psoriasis No information available Innovative
Orencia® (abatacept) CTLA4-Fc fusion protein-modified Fc BMS Dec 23, 2005 CD80/CD86 RA $1,679MM Innovative
Arcalyst® (rilonacept) IgG1 Fc fusion protein with IL-1 receptor and IL-1 accessory protein in-line Regeneron Feb 27, 2008 Antagonizes IL-1β, IL-1α, IL-1RA CAPS, Muckle Wells syndrome $14.4M Innovative
Nplate® (romiplostim) Fc-peptide fusion (“peptibody”) Amgen Aug 22, 2008 TPO receptor Thrombo-cytopenia $491MM Innovative
Elonva® (corifollitropin-α) FSH-CTP fusion Merck No FDA approval; approved by EMA (Feb 1, 2010) FSH receptor Fertility No information available Biobetter of Humegon® [mentropins FSH, LH (natural)] Organon (1994)
Nulojix® (belatacept) CTLA-4 Fc fusion (higher affinity than abatacept) BMS Jun 16, 2011 CD80/CD86 Renal trans plantation No information available Innovative
Eylea® (aflibercept) VEGFR-Fc fusion Bayer–Schering Pharma/Regeneron Nov 18, 2011 VEGF Wet AMD; central retinal vein occlusion $2,775MM Innovative
Zaltrap® (ziv-aflibercept) VEGFR-Fc fusion Sanofi/Regeneron Aug 3, 2012 VEGF Metastatic colorectal cancer $73.3MM Innovative
Alprolix® (eftrenonacog-α; BIIB-029) rhFactor IX-Fc; Fc domain fused to single molecule of Factor IX (98 kDa) Biogen Idec/Biovitrum/SOBI Mar 28, 2014 Factor substitute Hemophilia B $76MM (partial year) Biobetter of Rixubis® [rhFactor IX; Baxter (2013)] and multiple Factor IX blood product replacement proteins
Tanzeum® (US), Eperzan® (EU) (albiglutide; GSK716155; also known as Albugon) GLP-1-HSA fusion GSK Apr 15, 2014 GLP-1R T2DM $8.9MM (partial year) Biobetter of Victoza® [liraglutide; Novo Nordisk (2010)]
Eloctate® (efraloctocog-α) B-domain-deleted Factor VIII fused to IgG1 Fc (220 kDa) Biogen Idec/SOBI Jun 9, 2014 Factor substitute Hemophilia A $58.4MM (partial year) Biobetter of multiple Factor VIII replacement proteins (e.g., Aafact® (Sanquin, 1995)]
Trulicity® (dulaglutide) GLP-1-Fc fusion protein Eli Lilly Sep 18, 2014 Fc fusion protein; GLP-1 receptor agonist T2DM $10.2MM (partial year) Biobetter of Victoza® [liraglutide; Novo Nordisk (2010)]

Data obtained from prescribing information released by the manufacturers, company websites, FDA website, and company press releases

AMD age-related macular degeneration, BMS Bristol-Myers Squibb, CAPS cropyrin-associated periodic syndrome, CD cluster of differentiation, CTLA cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein, CTP carboxyl-terminal peptide (of chorionic gonadotropin β-chain), EMA European Medicines Agency, EU European Union, Fc constant fragment, FDA US Food and Drug Administration, FSH follicle-stimulating hormone, GLP glucagon-like peptide, GSK GlaxoSmithKline, HSA human serum albumin, Ig immunoglobulin, IL interleukin, LFA lymphocyte function-associated antigen, LH luteinizing hormone, MM millions, RA rheumatoid arthritis, rh recombinant human, SOBI Swedish Orphan Biovitrum, T2DM type 2 diabetes mellitus, TNF tumor necrosis factor, TNFR tumor necrosis factor receptor, TPO thrombopoietin, VEGF vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGFR vascular endothelial growth factor receptor

aFrom reference [147]