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Common variable immune deficiency (CVID): US-approved treatments and how families in the Gulf can access them
A plain guide for families in the Gulf, checked against US FDA labels, US National Institutes of Health information, Gulf drug registers and published research on 17 October 2026.
Reviewed by the Reserve Meds clinical operations team on 17 October 2026.
Common variable immune deficiency: the short answer
The US FDA has approved two medicines covered on this page for common variable immune deficiency, each for a specific group of patients: Cuvitru and Hyqvia. On 17 October 2026, two of them were on the Saudi or Abu Dhabi register, so ask your hospital about local supply first. Where a medicine is not registered, the treating hospital can ask the national regulator to import it for one named patient. Reserve Meds is a digital health company that helps with that process. We do not diagnose or prescribe.
- US FDA-approved medicines on this page: Cuvitru and Hyqvia.
- Gulf registers (checked 17 October 2026): see each medicine below.
- Legal route: local supply where listed; otherwise a named-patient import request filed by the treating hospital.
- Price: Quote on request.
What is common variable immune deficiency?
Common variable immune deficiency (CVID) is a disorder that impairs the immune system. People with CVID are highly susceptible to infections, particularly in the lungs, sinuses and ears, and pneumonia is common. Over time, repeated infections can lead to chronic lung disease.[1]
Some people with CVID have infection or inflammation of the digestive tract, enlarged lymph nodes or spleen, or small lumps of immune cells called granulomas. About 25 percent have an autoimmune disorder, most often affecting the blood cells.[1]
CVID is estimated to affect 1 in 25,000 to 1 in 50,000 people worldwide. Treatment usually includes regular immune globulin replacement, which is given into a vein or under the skin.[1, 2, 3]
Common variable immune deficiency in the Gulf
A 2023 study evaluated quality of life in Saudi pediatric patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases receiving 20% subcutaneous IgG infusions at home, and an earlier report described primary antibody deficiency in Arabs in eastern Saudi Arabia.[4, 5]
We checked every medicine on this page against the full SFDA drugs list and the Abu Dhabi Department of Health drug code list on 17 October 2026. 2 of 2 were listed in Saudi Arabia and 2 of 2 in Abu Dhabi. The result for each medicine is shown below. A listing does not mean every hospital stocks the medicine, and federal UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman registers were not checked.[6, 7]
US FDA-approved medicines for common variable immune deficiency
Each medicine below is approved in the US for a specific group of patients. The wording summarizes the current US label. Your specialist decides whether any of them is right for the patient.
- Cuvitru (immune globulin subcutaneous (human) 20%)
US FDA-approved for replacement therapy for primary humoral immunodeficiency in adults and children 2 years and older. It is a 20% immune globulin given under the skin.[2]
Current US label version: 25 November 2025. Gulf registers: Saudi Arabia (SFDA drugs list): listed. Abu Dhabi (DoH drug code list): listed. Checked 17 October 2026. Federal UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman: not checked; we confirm for your country when you ask.[6, 7]
Country access guides: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar - Hyqvia (immune globulin infusion 10% with recombinant human hyaluronidase)
US FDA-approved for primary immunodeficiency in adults and children 2 years and older, and maintenance therapy in adults with CIDP. It is a 10% immune globulin with hyaluronidase, given under the skin.[3]
Current US label version: 18 June 2026. Gulf registers: Saudi Arabia (SFDA drugs list): listed. Abu Dhabi (DoH drug code list): listed. Checked 17 October 2026. Federal UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman: not checked; we confirm for your country when you ask.[6, 7]
How families in the Gulf can access treatment
If the medicine is listed in your country. Ask your specialist and the hospital about local supply first. A listing does not mean every hospital stocks the medicine, but it is usually the fastest route, and you may not need us.
If it is not registered. The usual legal route is a named-patient request: the treating hospital, on your specialist's written request, asks the national regulator for permission to import the medicine for one patient, using the US FDA approval as the reference. In Saudi Arabia the SFDA Special Access Program guidance covers these requests; in Bahrain, NHRA Circular 41 of 2020 sets the procedure. Other Gulf countries have their own procedures, which the hospital confirms.[8, 9] Once approval is in place, Reserve Meds arranges supply through a US-licensed pharmaceutical wholesale partner to the hospital.
Who does what
- Your treating specialist decides whether a medicine is right for the patient and writes the medical letter.
- The hospital checks local supply, files any import request, and gives the treatment safely.
- The national regulator decides whether to approve the import of a medicine that is not registered.
- The manufacturer decides where its medicine can be supplied, especially for cell and gene therapies.
- Reserve Meds helps organize records, coordinates US supply through our wholesale partner, shipping and updates to your family. We do not give medical advice.
Documents you will usually need
- A letter from the treating specialist with the diagnosis, past treatments and why this medicine is being considered
- Reports that confirm the diagnosis, such as genetic, pathology, imaging or laboratory results, translated into English where needed
- Recent clinic notes and a list of current medicines
- For a hospital import request: the prescription, the hospital's request form and the written consent of the patient or guardian
- Proof of the US FDA approval and the US prescribing information (we can supply these)
We give you a written timeline estimate for your case before you commit. The regulator, the hospital or treatment center and the manufacturer set their own timelines.
What treatment costs
Quote on request. Your total cost depends on the medicine, the dose, shipping, import steps and coordination. Your coordination fee is quoted in writing for your case before you commit. No hidden charges.
How Reserve Meds helps
Reserve Meds is a digital health company. Medicines are supplied through a US-licensed pharmaceutical wholesale partner. We help your doctor and hospital prepare the file, arrange US supply and temperature-controlled shipping once approval is in place, and keep your family updated. We coordinate access to FDA-approved medicines only. Investigational medicines are only available through a manufacturer's expanded-access program requested by the treating physician; we can explain that route, but we do not supply them.
Ask us about treatment for common variable immune deficiency
Tell us the medicine, your country and a WhatsApp or phone number. We reply within one business day. On WhatsApp we usually reply the same day.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an FDA-approved treatment for common variable immune deficiency?
Yes. The medicines on this page have US FDA approval for specific groups of patients: Cuvitru and Hyqvia. The exact conditions are in each US label and are summarized above. Your specialist decides whether any of them fits.
Is Cuvitru available in Saudi Arabia or the UAE?
We checked on 17 October 2026. Saudi Arabia (SFDA drugs list): listed. Abu Dhabi (Department of Health drug code list): listed. A listing in Abu Dhabi does not show federal UAE status, which we could not verify. Your hospital confirms current supply.
How can a family in the Gulf get Cuvitru?
Ask the treating hospital about local supply first. If it is not available, the hospital can file a named-patient import request with the national regulator on your specialist's written request. Once approved, we arrange US supply to the hospital.
How much does treatment cost?
Quote on request. Your total cost, including the medicine, shipping, import steps and coordination, is quoted in writing for your case before you commit. No hidden charges.
Does Reserve Meds diagnose or prescribe?
No. Reserve Meds is a digital health company. Medicines are supplied through a US-licensed pharmaceutical wholesale partner. We do not diagnose, prescribe or decide what a regulator approves. Your specialist and hospital make the medical decisions.
Can immune globulin be given at home?
Subcutaneous products such as Cuvitru and Hyqvia are given under the skin, and a 2023 Saudi study looked at children receiving 20% subcutaneous IgG at home. Your immunologist decides the setting.
Sources for the condition-specific answers: [2, 4]
Sources
Accessed and checked on 17 October 2026. Labels, registers and regulator rules change. Your hospital confirms the current position before anything is filed.
- MedlinePlus Genetics (US National Library of Medicine): Common variable immune deficiency
- DailyMed: CUVITRU (immune globulin subcutaneous (human) 20%) US prescribing information, label version 25 November 2025
- DailyMed: HYQVIA (immune globulin infusion 10% with recombinant human hyaluronidase) US prescribing information, label version 18 June 2026
- Al-Saud B, et al. Quality of Life Evaluation in Saudi Arabian Pediatric Patients with Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases Receiving 20% Subcutaneous IgG Infusions at Home. J Clin Immunol. 2023 (PubMed 37145392)
- al-Attas RA, et al. Primary antibody deficiency in Arabs: first report from eastern Saudi Arabia. J Clin Immunol. 1998 (PubMed 9793829)
- SFDA: Drugs List, public register (all 9,173 entries checked by brand name on 17 October 2026)
- Department of Health Abu Dhabi: drug code list Drugs.xlsx (release 26 September 2026, effective 2 October 2026)
- SFDA: Special Access Program (SAP) guidance, version 1.0
- NHRA Bahrain: Circular No. (41) of 2020, procedures for importing non-registered medicines and pharmaceutical products
Related
- Chronic granulomatous disease
- Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP)
- Cuvitru: drug overview
- Named-patient access in the Gulf, explained
- US-approved medicines not yet registered in the Gulf
- Answers to common access questions
- Cross-border disclosures
- اقرأ هذه الصفحة بالعربية
This page is general health information, not medical advice. It does not replace a consultation with your doctor.