What is Imiglucerase (Cerezyme)?

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Last updated: May 13, 2025View editorial policy

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From the Guidelines

Imiglucerase, not Imiglimine, is the correct term and it is used for the treatment of Gaucher's disease type 1, with a recommended dosage and administration schedule as part of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) 1. The provided evidence discusses the use of Imiglucerase as a recombinant human GBA enzyme for the treatment of Gaucher's disease type 1, highlighting its efficacy in improving major peripheral symptoms within the first year of treatment, although the response to bone abnormalities is less effective and may take several years 1. Some key points to consider when using Imiglucerase include:

  • Approximately 15% of treated patients develop IgG antibodies against the recombinant enzyme, with about half of these patients experiencing mild to moderate allergic adverse events, particularly during the first year of treatment 1.
  • The majority of patients who develop antibodies can continue treatment with the same dosage, as the antibodies often disappear over time, and only a few patients develop therapy-limiting inhibitory antibodies 1.
  • Imiglucerase is one of several ERT options available for Gaucher's disease type 1, including velaglucerase alfa and taliglucerase alfa, with each having its own efficacy and safety profile 1. It's essential to note that the provided evidence does not mention Imiglimine, and the correct term is Imiglucerase, which is used for the treatment of Gaucher's disease type 1 1.

From the Research

Imiglimine and Imipramine

  • Imiglimin is a new oral anti-diabetic drug that has been approved for managing diabetes, with a unique mode of action that targets both insulin secretion and insulin resistance by correcting mitochondrial dysfunction 2.
  • Imipramine, on the other hand, is a tricyclic antidepressant that has been used to treat major depressive disorder, with its therapeutic option after an unsuccessful response still unclear 3.

Imipramine Studies

  • A 10-week randomized open-label study found that add-on citalopram was a more effective treatment option than add-on lithium in imipramine-resistant severe unipolar major depressive patients 3.
  • A study on prepubertal children with major depressive disorder found that imipramine hydrochloride was not effective in reducing depressive symptoms, with a mean imipramine dosage that was too low 4.
  • Imipramine treatment has been shown to exhibit similar chromatin regulation in the mouse nucleus accumbens as resiliency in depression models, providing new insight into the molecular basis of depression-like symptoms and the mechanisms by which antidepressants exert their delayed clinical efficacy 5.
  • Imipramine has been found to exert antidepressant-like effects in chronic stress models of depression by promoting CRTC1 expression in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) 6.

Key Findings

  • Imiglimin has a unique mode of action that targets both insulin secretion and insulin resistance, making it a potential treatment option for diabetes 2.
  • Imipramine's therapeutic option after an unsuccessful response is still unclear, but add-on citalopram has been found to be a more effective treatment option than add-on lithium in imipramine-resistant severe unipolar major depressive patients 3.
  • Imipramine treatment has been shown to exhibit similar chromatin regulation in the mouse nucleus accumbens as resiliency in depression models, providing new insight into the molecular basis of depression-like symptoms 5.

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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