A new drug, Vpriv, manufactured by Massachusetts-based Shire Human Genetic Therapies Inc. has got U. S approval for treating children and adults with the most common form of Gaucher Disease.

The injectable drug will treat patients with Type 1 Gaucher disease and serve as a substitute to Genzyme's Cerezyme, which is in short supply due to manufacturing problems.

So, people suffering from Type 1 Gaucher disease can switch to Vpriv without any fear.

VPRIV has been evaluated in clinical experiments involving 82 people aged 4 and older with Type 1 Gaucher. The drug is overall safe but there are some most common side effects such as allergic reactions, dizziness, pain in the abdomen, joints and back, nausea, fatigue, fever, and prolonged blood clotting.

Shire Inc. plans to sell its drug at a 15% discount over Genzyme's drug and hopes to launch Vpriv in Europe later this year and in other countries starting in 2011.

But there are speculations that Vpriv, known generically as velaglucerase, is not likely to break Genzyme's hold on the $1.2 billion Gaucher market. It will face difficulties in getting doctors to move to Shire's newer alternative.

Maybe Shire would have to offer more discounts to create a market share for Vpriv and outshine Genzyme.

Then there are other rival products that are coming up with Gaucher drug. Protalix Biotherapeutics Inc. and Pfizer Inc. are hoping to get their drug approved by the end of the year.

Gaucher disease hits people who are short of a certain enzyme. Too much fat builds up in the body and prevents organs from working.

The disease is more prevalent in people of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. On the whole, the disorder occurs in about 1 in 50,000 to 1 in 100,000 people.

It seems people will have more choice to pick their Gaucher drug according to their suitability.