Axicabtagene ciloleucel

Generic name: Axicabtagene Ciloleucel
Brand names: Yescarta
Dosage form: intravenous suspension (-)
Drug class: Miscellaneous antineoplastics

Usage of Axicabtagene ciloleucel

Axicabtagene ciloleucel is an immunotherapy medicine used to treat large B-cell lymphoma in adults. axicabtagene ciloleucel is given after at least two other treatments have failed.

Axicabtagene ciloleucel is made using white blood cells removed from blood that is drawn from your body through a vein.

Axicabtagene ciloleucel is available under a special program. You must be registered in the program and understand the risks and benefits of this medicine.

Axicabtagene ciloleucel may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Axicabtagene ciloleucel side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

A serious side effect of axicabtagene ciloleucel is called cytokine release syndrome (CRS). Tell your caregivers right away if you have signs of this condition: fever, chills, trouble breathing, confusion, severe vomiting or diarrhea, fast or irregular heartbeats, feeling light-headed, or feeling very weak or tired. Your caregivers will have medication available to quickly treat CRS if it occurs.

Also tell your caregivers or seek emergency medical attention if you have signs of life-threatening nerve problems: problems with speech, problems with thinking or memory, confusion, or a seizure.

Also call your doctor at once if you have:

headaches, dizziness;

tremors, anxiety, trouble sleeping;

unusual thoughts or behavior;

trouble speaking or understanding what is said to you; or

low blood cell counts--fever, chills, tiredness, flu-like symptoms, mouth sores, skin sores, easy bruising, unusual bleeding, pale skin, cold hands and feet, feeling light-headed or short of breath.

Common side effects of axicabtagene ciloleucel may include:

nausea, diarrhea;

low blood cells;

confusion; or

fast heartbeats.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Axicabtagene ciloleucel

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

an active or chronic infection;

memory problems;

a seizure;

liver or kidney disease;

a stroke; or

if you have received a vaccine in the past 2 weeks.

Women may need pregnancy testing before receiving this medicine. You may also need to use birth control to prevent pregnancy during and shortly after treatment with axicabtagene ciloleucel and chemotherapy.

If you receive axicabtagene ciloleucel during pregnancy, your baby's blood may need to be tested after it is born. This is to evaluate any effects the medicine may have had on the baby.

It may not be safe to breastfeed while using this medicine. Ask your doctor about any risk.

Relate drugs

How to use Axicabtagene ciloleucel

Usual Adult Dose for Lymphoma:

2 x 10(6) chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-positive viable T cells IV per kg body weight via IV infusion; infuse within 30 minutes Maximum Dose: 2 x 10(8) CAR-positive viable T cells Comments: -Pretreatment: Administer a lymphodepleting chemotherapy regimen of cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2 IV and fludarabine 30 mg/m2 IV on the fifth, fourth, and third day before infusion of this drug.-Premedication: Administer acetaminophen 650 mg orally and diphenhydramine 12.5 mg IV or orally approximately 1 hour before infusion of this drug.-Avoid prophylactic use of systemic corticosteroids as it may interfere with the activity of this drug.Use: Treatment of relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma after 2 or more lines of systemic therapy, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not otherwise specified, primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, high grade B-cell lymphoma, and DLBCL arising from follicular lymphoma

Warnings

A serious side effect of axicabtagene ciloleucel is called cytokine release syndrome, which causes fever, chills, trouble breathing, vomiting, and other symptoms. Your caregivers will have medication available to quickly treat this condition if it occurs.

Axicabtagene ciloleucel can also cause life-threatening nerve problems. Tell your caregivers or seek emergency medical attention if you have problems with speech, problems with thinking or memory, confusion, or a seizure.

What other drugs will affect Axicabtagene ciloleucel

Other drugs may affect axicabtagene ciloleucel, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Popular FAQ

The cost of Yescarta, as reported by the manufacturer, is $373,000 per treatment regimen. CAR T cell development is a complicated bioengineering process and this personalized cancer treatment is expected to be costly. Specialized facilities, manufacturing costs, and possible intensive care needs can also contribute to the cost of this medication. Continue reading

Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel) is given through a catheter placed into your vein (intravenous infusion). The infusion usually takes less than 30 minutes and is given as a one-time infusion. Yescarta is administered only in a certified healthcare facility. Continue reading

Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel) is a CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR T) therapy used for adults with relapsed or refractory (r/r) large B-cell lymphoma and r/r follicular lymphoma (FL). In CAR T, a patient's T cells (type of white blood cell) are separated out and engineered to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) to target the tumor antigen CD19. Continue reading

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