Curosurf (poractant alfa)

Poractant alfa, an exogenous natural pulmonary surfactant preparation, is a porcine lung extract containing mostly phospholipids.

Poractant alfa, an exogenous natural surfactant preparation, is a porcine lung extract containing mostly phospholipids. The commercially available poractant alfa formulation contains 80 mg/mL of phospholipids (including 54 mg of phosphatidylcholine of which 30.5 mg is dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine) and 1 mg of surfactant proteins (SP-B, SP-C).

Endogenous pulmonary surfactant reduces surface tension at the air-liquid interface of the alveoli during ventilation and stabilizes the alveoli against collapse at resting transpulmonary pressures. A deficiency of pulmonary surfactant in premature neonates results in respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), which is characterized by poor lung expansion, inadequate gas exchange, and atelectasis. Exogenous surfactants (e.g., beractant, calfactant, colfosceril palmitate, poractant alfa) compensate for the deficiency of surfactant in premature neonates, increasing alveolar stability and pulmonary compliance, decreasing pulmonary edema and the work required for breathing, and facilitating uniform alveolar recruitment on inspiration.

Generic name: poractant alfa
Drug class: Lung Surfactants
Therapeutic class: Respiratory Therapy Agents

The following indications are listed for Curosurf:

• Respiratory Distress Syndrome In The Newborn

Also known as: Congenital Alveolar Dysplasia, Hyaline Membrane Disease, Idiopathic Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Perinatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Pulmonary Hypoperfusion Syndrome Of Newborn, Rds Of Newborn, Respiratory Distress Syndrome Of Newborn.