NHIBITS SERINE PROTEASES (EG, NEUTROPHIL ELASTASE), WHICH ARE CAPABLE OF DEGRADING PROTEIN COMPONENTS OF THE ALVEOLAR WALLS AND WHICH ARE CHRONICALLY PRESENT IN THE LUNG.
USED FOR CHRONIC AUGMENTATION THERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH CONGENITAL DEFICIENCY OF ALPHA-1 PROTEINASE INHIBITOR WITH CLINICALLY EVIDENT EMPHYSEMA.