Ecallantide
Ecallantide is a plasma-kallikrein inhibitor in KALBITOR, used for acute hereditary angioedema attacks. Its allergy risk requires medical supervision.
At a glance
- Evidence stage
- Approved use
- Regulatory status
- KALBITOR is US-approved for acute hereditary angioedema attacks in patients aged 12 years and older; it has a boxed anaphylaxis warning.
- Research context
- Ecallantide is a plasma-kallikrein inhibitor in KALBITOR, used for acute hereditary angioedema attacks. Its allergy risk requires medical supervision.
What this is
- Ecallantide is a plasma-kallikrein inhibitor in KALBITOR, used for acute hereditary angioedema attacks. Its allergy risk requires medical supervision.
What this isn't
- A recommendation to use, prepare, combine, or administer a product
- Evidence that a related molecule or a differently formulated product has the same effects
Ecallantide is a plasma-kallikrein inhibitor in KALBITOR, used for acute hereditary angioedema attacks. Its allergy risk requires medical supervision.
In hereditary angioedema associated with deficient or dysfunctional C1 inhibitor, excessive kallikrein activity can increase bradykinin, a signal that promotes swelling. Ecallantide blocks plasma kallikrein and reduces that production pathway. It acts upstream of bradykinin receptors and is distinct from icatibant, which blocks a receptor after bradykinin has been produced. Product label.
Evidence limits
How to read the evidence
These studies evaluated relief during attacks, not long-term prevention or elimination of the inherited disorder. Patient-reported scales and short observation periods constrain the conclusions. Evidence for hereditary angioedema should not be generalized to ordinary allergy, every cause of facial swelling, or drug-associated angioedema without condition-specific evidence. Product-specific scope.
Sources appraised 2026-10-28. Educational information; not medical advice. Study findings apply to the populations, preparations and outcomes described.
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