FDA approves CSL Behring's RiaSTAP

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved German firm CSL Behring's intravenous fibrinogen concentrate product, RiaSTAP, for the  treatment of bleeding in patients with congenital fibrinogen deficiency.

People with CFD are unable to make sufficient amounts of fibrinogen,  which plays an important role in blood coagulation by helping to form  blood clots and prevent bleeding.

Deficiency of this vital protein affects only 150 to 300 people in the  USA and is usually diagnosed at birth when newborns bleed from their  umbilical cord site. Children with the defect need to curtail activities  because of risk of bleeding from minor trauma.