Factor VII

Coagulation factor VII (<a href="/facts/Enzyme_Commission_number/Y5GNLRKX">EC</a> <a href="https://enzyme.expasy.org/EC/3.4.21.21">3.4.21.21</a>, formerly known as proconvertin) is a <a href="/facts/Protein/Jxmagu3E">protein</a> involved in <a href="/facts/Coagulation/vnfEevM0">coagulation</a> and, in humans, is encoded by <a href="/facts/Gene/e1swwPY6">gene</a> F7. It is an <a href="/facts/Enzyme/DSI1Fh7y">enzyme</a> of the <a href="/facts/Serine_protease/kGfEE6hE">serine protease</a> class. Once bound to <a href="/facts/Tissue_factor/8qSycULo">tissue factor</a> released from damaged tissues, it is converted to factor VIIa (or blood-coagulation factor VIIa, activated blood coagulation factor VII), which in turn activates <a href="/facts/Factor_IX/s45WpX2A">factor IX</a> and <a href="/facts/Factor_X/7IQfSlKM">factor X</a>.
Using <a href="/facts/Genetic_recombination/uocNH0m7">genetic recombination</a> a <a href="/facts/Recombinant_factor_VIIa/jXjADLVo">recombinant factor VIIa</a> (eptacog alfa) (trade names include NovoSeven) has been approved by the <a href="/facts/FDA/KM9sGre7">FDA</a> for the control of bleeding in <a href="/facts/Hemophilia/DzpVBLna">hemophilia</a>. It is sometimes used unlicensed in severe uncontrollable bleeding, although there have been safety concerns. A <a href="/facts/Biosimilar/QmgnUAzK">biosimilar</a> form of recombinant activated factor VII (AryoSeven) is also available, but does not play any considerable role in the market.
In April 2020, the US FDA approved a new rFVIIa product, eptacog beta (SEVENFACT), the first bypassing agent (BPA) approved in more than 2 decades. As an rFVIIa product, eptacog beta works in a complex with tissue factor to activate factor X to Xa, thereby bypassing FVIII and FIX. The activation of Factor X to Xa initiates the coagulation cascade’s common pathway, leading to clot formation at the site of hemorrhage. Activated FVII binds to endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR), which enhances hemostasis.14 One study showed that eptacog beta binds to EPCR with 25% to 30% more affinity than eptacog alfa, displacing protein C from EPCR binding sites and downregulating activated protein C generation, contributing to its hemostatic effect.

Factor VII open-in-new

Factor VII