User:Mr. Ibrahem/Sapropterin

Sapropterin, also known as tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4, THB), is a medication used to treat phenylketonuria or tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency. It is used together with dietary changes. Levels of phenylalanine in the blood are measured during the first month to determine if it is effective. It is taken by mouth.

Common side effects include headache and runny nose. Other side effects may include anaphylaxis, stomach inflammation, and hyperactivity. Use may be considered in pregnancy if diet alone does not control phenylalanine levels. It is a cofactor which improves the activity of phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH), which breaks down phenylalanine.

Sapropterin was approved for medical use in the United States in 2007, Europe in 2008, and Canada in 2010. In Canada it costs about 48,000 to 168,000 CAD a year for a 68 kg person in 2017. In the United States this amount costs 38,000 to 152,000 USD per year while in the United Kingdom it is about £25,000 to £100,000 as of 2021. It is sold under the brand names Kuvan and Biopten.