Viltepso (viltolarsen) is a prescription drug that can help treat a certain type of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The drug is a liquid solution that a healthcare professional infuses (injects into a vein) usually once per week.
Viltepso is prescribed to adults and certain children to help treat a type of DMD. It’s prescribed to people with a mutation of (a change in) the DMD gene called exon 53.
The active ingredient in Viltepso is viltolarsen. Viltepso belongs to a group of drugs called antisense oligonucleotides.
This article describes the dosage of Viltepso, as well as its strength and how it’s given. To learn more about Viltepso, see this in-depth article.
This section describes the usual dosage of Viltepso. Keep reading to learn more.
What’s Viltepso’s form?
Viltepso is available as a liquid solution that you receive by intravenous (IV) infusion. This is an injection into your vein over a period of time.
What strength does Viltepso come in?
Viltepso comes in one strength of 250 milligrams (mg) per 5 milliliters (mL) of solution (50 mg/mL).
What’s the usual dosage of Viltepso in adults?
Your doctor will prescribe the recommended dosage of Viltepso based on your body weight in kilograms (kg). For reference, 1 kg is about 2.2 pounds (lb).
The information below describes dosages that are commonly prescribed or recommended. Your doctor will calculate the dosage that’s right for you. In some cases, doctors may adjust your dosage based on what’s shown below.
Dosage for DMD
Viltepso’s dosage for adults with DMD is 80 mg/kg once per week.
As an example, assume a person weighs 120 lb, which is about 55 kg. Their dosage would be 4,400 mg once per week.
If you have questions about your dosage of Viltepso, talk with your doctor to learn more.
What’s the dosage of Viltepso for children?
Viltepso is approved to help treat DMD in children. (The drug was studied in male children ages 4 years and older. In this article, we use the term “male” to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.)
The dosage prescribed to children is the same as the dosage prescribed to adults. To learn more, see the “What is the usual dosage of Viltepso in adults?” section above.
For more information about Viltepso’s dosage for children, talk with your child’s doctor.
You receive Viltepso by IV infusion at a hospital, clinic, or doctor’s office. This is an injection given into your vein over a period of time by a healthcare professional. It typically takes about 60 minutes to receive a dose of Viltepso.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about Viltepso infusions. You can also learn more from this guide provided by Viltepso’s drugmaker.
Yes, Viltepso is usually given as a long-term treatment. You and your doctor can discuss whether it’s safe and effective for your condition. If you agree that it is, you’ll likely receive it long term.
If you have questions about your dosage and how long you’ll receive Viltepso, talk with your doctor.
Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.