Icatibant
Aliases: Firazyr
Last verified: 2026-09-23
The short version
A 10-aa peptide — bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist; acute treatment of hereditary angioedema.
Identity & type
- Molecular type
- analog
- Origin
- A 10-aa peptide — bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist; acute treatment of hereditary angioedema.
Mechanism of action
Blocks B2 → interrupts the bradykinin edema cascade.
Dosing & routes
Official / clinical context
Approved drug — indications, dosing and warnings are defined by the official label. 30 mg SC; may repeat after 6 h.
Regulator-approved labeling and published study designs — never a recommendation.
Community-reported practice
30 mg SC; may repeat after 6 h. Firazyr: in hereditary angioedema rapidly reduces swelling (30–60 min); patients carry it for acute attacks.
Unverified self-reports. Not medical advice. Not endorsement.
Expected effects (community)
Firazyr: in hereditary angioedema rapidly reduces swelling (30–60 min); patients carry it for acute attacks.
Protocol — official vs community
Official / label
Firazyr (acute hereditary angioedema attacks): 30 mg SC as a single dose; may repeat after 6 hours if needed, to a maximum of 3 doses in 24 hours.
Duration: Per-attack, on demand. Median symptom relief begins around 2 hours in trial data, faster in real-world self-treatment.
Self-administration is labeled — patients are trained to inject at attack onset, which converts an ER-dependent disease into a carry-and-treat one. Local reactions are common and transient.
Community (anecdotal)
The HAE patient community mirrors the label: 30 mg SC at first symptom of an attack, self-administered, up to 3 doses/24 h. Attack-recognition training and keeping the pen accessible are the community's real focus.
- Cycle:
- On-demand per attack — not scheduled.
- Break:
- Not applicable; the paradigm is event-driven treatment.
This is a patient community of a defined genetic disease, not gray-market use — the 'community protocol' is the label protocol executed quickly and confidently.
Human evidence
FAST Phase III trials.
Preclinical evidence
The preclinical phase was completed and submitted to regulators as part of registration; pharmacology and toxicology details are part of the official label.
Known risks
- Local reactions.characterized
Teal: characterized in clinical/labeling contexts. Amber: theoretical or reported outside controlled settings.
Unknowns & evidence gaps
- Real-world data outside controlled trials