The U. S for quite sometime was having troubles with the treatment for the rare inherited disorder known as the Gaucher disease. The U. S Food and Drug Administration has approved Velaglucerase alfa for injection (VPRIV) for the treatment of this deadly disease which affects about 1 in 50,000 people as claimed by FDA in a press release.

The disorder is caused by the lack of glucocerebrosidase, n enzyme which allows a fatty substance called a lipid to up in the liver, spleen, bones, bone marrow and nervous system. This news would come as pleasant news for the people suffering with this disease. This new treatment will now replace the lacking enzyme glucocerebrosidase. This would be the way it would happen for all the Type I Gaucher disease patients. Type I is one of the most common forms of this rare disease. There is a short supply of the older form of replacement therapy.

The safety and effectiveness of VPRIV were evaluated in clinical trials that included 82 people with ages ranging from 4 years and above. Allergic reactions were the most common side effects that were reported, others being dizziness; pain in the abdomen, joints and back; nausea, fatigue, fever, and prolonged blood clotting.