Factor IX Complex is the original product, which was first developed in France in 1959. Although Factor IX Complex was the mainstay of hemophilia B treatment until the late 1980 s, its usage has declined markedly due to the current availability of safer, more highly purified products. A significant drawback to the use of Factor IX Complex is the occurrence of potentially life-threatening thrombosis in some patients.
Thrombosis is the formation of unnecessary blood clots inside blood vessels.
These clots, or thrombi, can float through the bloodstream and eventually block small blood vessels. If that happens in the lungs or the brain, the consequences can be very serious. Coagulation Factor IX was developed in the 1980 s specifically to overcome the thrombosis problem. Coagulation Factor IX contains mainly factor IX with only tiny amounts of the other clotting factors. Controlled clinical studies plus a decade of usage in patients have shown that Coagulation Factor IX does not cause thrombosis.