Debbie Margolin was an infant, born in South Africa, when a mosquito bite on her lip would not stop bleeding. At the insistence of her uncle, a pediatrician, Debbie was tested for a bleeding disorder. At 6 months of age, she was diagnosed with Type 3 von Willebrand Disease. For Debbie, growing up with VWD in the '60s and '70s meant dealing with constant nose bleeds, heavy menstrual bleeding and joint bleeding – with limited treatment options and concerns about the safety of the blood supply. “At that time, people were very concerned about contamination of blood. Infusing was a scary prospect.”
Shortly after moving to the US, Debbie gave birth to her first child, a son, in what she describes as a “miracle pregnancy.” After the C–section delivery, she worked closely with her doctors to control her bleeding. Amazingly, 18 months later she gave birth to her second child, a daughter. “I was so lucky. So many women with VWD experience terrible complications with childbirth and bleeding. It can be very dangerous.”
During this time, Debbie tried two different infusion products but reported poor tolerability. “The side effects were a real bother.” At the recommendation of her physician, she switched to wilate. “Because of my previous experience, when I switched to wilate I was very nervous about side effects. But I responded really well. Now I get excellent results when I need to treat a bleed – without side effects. I'm sold on wilate.”
As a long–time wilate patient, Debbie also wants patients to know about Factor My Way Co–Pay and Reimbursement Assistance. “Care for a bleeding disorder can be very expensive. I know. I have a $10,000 deductible with my insurance coverage. Knowing that Factor My Way offers savings of up to $12,000 per year on my treatment costs is really helpful.”
Today Debbie lives in Queens, New York with her husband and family. She has made her career in film, working as a Post–Production Supervisor. She also teaches elementary school. For years, Debbie has been a powerful advocate for the VWD community and often speaks about her experiences as someone living well with Type 3 VWD. She believes that people with VWD have an opportunity and a responsibility to educate and inspire others. “When life gives you such an opportunity to make a difference, don't miss it. Just do it.”
New to Factor My Way? Sign up here.
You are now leaving an Octapharma property. Links to all outside sites are provided as a resource to our visitors. Octapharma disclaims any and all liability for the content, services, or privacy practices of sites that are not owned and operated by Octapharma. Linking to this site is done at your own risk.
To return to the prior page, close this window or select cancel.
To continue to the offsite link, please select continue.
Those with Medicare, Medicaid, Medigap, VA, DOD, Tricare or other federal or state government insurance are not eligible to receive co-pay assistance.
This material represents individual patient and/or caregiver experience living with a bleeding disorder.
This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with your local Hemophilia Treatment Center physician or other health care provider if you have any questions related to management of bleeding disorders.
Indications and Important Safety Information for NUWIQ® [Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant)].
Please see NUWIQ full Prescribing Information. Instructions For Use
Indications and Usage
NUWIQ® is a recombinant antihemophilic factor [coagulation factor VIII (Factor VIII)] indicated in adults and children with Hemophilia A for on-demand treatment and control of bleeding episodes, perioperative management of bleeding, and routine prophylaxis to reduce the frequency of bleeding episodes. NUWIQ® is not indicated for the treatment of von Willebrand Disease.
Contraindications
NUWIQ is contraindicated in patients who have manifested life-threatening hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, to the product or its components.
Warnings and Precautions
Hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, are possible with NUWIQ. Early signs of hypersensitivity reactions that can progress to anaphylaxis may include angioedema, chest tightness, dyspnea, wheezing, urticaria, or pruritus. Immediately discontinue administration and initiate appropriate treatment if hypersensitivity reactions occur.
The formation of neutralizing antibodies (inhibitors) to Factor VIII can occur following the administration of NUWIQ. Monitor all patients for the development of Factor VIII inhibitors by appropriate clinical observations and laboratory tests. If the plasma Factor VIII level fails to increase as expected, or if bleeding is not controlled after NUWIQ administration, suspect the presence of an inhibitor (neutralizing antibody).
Adverse Reactions
The most frequently occurring adverse reactions (>0.5%) in clinical trials were paresthesia, headache, injection site inflammation, injection site pain, non-neutralizing anti-Factor VIII antibody formation, back pain, vertigo, and dry mouth.
Please see NUWIQ full Prescribing Information. Instructions For Use
Indications and Important Safety Information for wilate® [von Willebrand Factor/Coagulation Factor VIII Complex (Human)].
Please see wilate full Prescribing Information.
Indications
wilate® is a von Willebrand Factor/Coagulation Factor VIII Complex (Human) indicated in children and adults with von Willebrand disease for on-demand treatment and control of bleeding episodes and for perioperative management of bleeding. wilate is also indicated in adolescents and adults with hemophilia A for routine prophylaxis to reduce the frequency of bleeding episodes; and for on-demand treatment and control of bleeding episodes.
Contraindications
wilate® is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylactic or severe systemic reactions, to human plasma-derived products, any ingredient in the formulation, or components of the container.
Warnings and Precautions
Hypersensitivity Reactions
Hypersensitivity reactions may occur with wilate®. Signs and symptoms include angioedema, burning and stinging at the infusion site, chills, flushing, generalized urticaria, headache, hives, hypotension, lethargy, nausea, restlessness, tachycardia, tightness of the chest, tingling, vomiting, and wheezing that may progress to severe anaphylaxis (including shock) with or without fever. Closely monitor patients receiving wilate® and observe for any symptoms throughout the infusion period.
Because inhibitor antibodies may occur concomitantly with anaphylactic reactions, evaluate patients experiencing an anaphylactic reaction for the presence of inhibitors
Neutralizing Antibodies
VWD
Hemophilia A
Transmissible Infectious Agents
wilate® is made from human plasma. Because this product is made from human blood, it may carry a risk of transmitting infectious agents, e.g., viruses, and theoretically, the variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) agent. There is also the possibility that unknown infectious agents may be present in the product. The risk that wilate® will transmit viruses has been reduced by screening plasma donors for prior exposure to certain viruses, by testing for the presence of certain current virus infections, and by inactivating and removing certain viruses during manufacture. Despite these measures, it may still potentially transmit disease.
Record the batch number of the product every time wilate® is administered to a patient, and consider appropriate vaccination (against hepatitis A and B virus) of patients in regular/repeated receipt of wilate®. ALL infections thought by a physician possibly to have been transmitted by this product should be reported by the physician or other healthcare provider to Octapharma USA, Inc., at 1-866-766-4860.
Monitoring and Laboratory Tests
Adverse Reactions
The most common adverse reactions to treatment with wilate (≥ 1%) in patients with VWD were hypersensitivity reactions, urticaria, and dizziness. The most common adverse reactions to treatment with wilate (≥ 1%) in previously treated patients with hemophilia A was pyrexia (fever).
Please see wilate full Prescribing Information.
![]() |
![]() |
|
|