Kesimpta

Generic name: Ofatumumab
Dosage form: injection, for subcutaneous use

Usage of Kesimpta

Kesimpta (ofatumumab) is a FDA approved medicine used to slow the progression and risk of relapses for specific forms of relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). It is a once a month injection given under the skin (suBCutaneously) that you can self-administer in your own home.

Kesimpta is from the group of medicines called CD20 monoclonal antibodies that targets B-cell antigens. Sometimes they are called B-cell therapy or B-cell depletion therapy. Kesimpta works by binding to and decreasing B-cells. This medicine will not cure MS, but is used to slow its progression and reduce relapse rate.

Kesimpta side effects

Kesimpta may cause serious side effects, including:

See Important information

Injection-related reactions. Injection-related reactions is a common side effect of Kesimpta. Injecting this medicine can cause injection-related reactions that can happen within 24 hours (1 day) following the first injections and with later injections. Talk with your healthcare provider if you have any of these signs and symptoms:

at or near the injection site: redness of the skin, swelling, itching and pain or

that may happen when certain substances are released in your body: fever, headache, pain in the muscles, chills, and tiredness.

Low immunoglobulins. Kesimpta may cause a decrease in some types of antibodies. Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check your blood immunoglobulin levels.

The most common Kesimpta side effects include:

upper respiratory tract infection, with symptoms such as sore throat and runny nose, and headache. See Important information

headache

These are not all the possible side effects of Kesimpta. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Kesimpta

Do not use this medicine if you:

have active hepatitis B virus infection.

How to use Kesimpta

See the detailed Instructions for Use that comes with Kesimpta for information about how to prepare and inject a dose of this medicine and how to properly throw away (dispose of) used pens or prefilled syringes.

Use Kesimpta exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to use it.

Kesimpta is given as an injection under your skin (subcutaneous injection), in your thigh or stomach-area (abdomen) by you or a caregiver. A caregiver may also give you an injection in your upper outer arm.

Your healthcare provider will show you how to prepare and inject this medicine the right way before you use it for the first time.

Do not inject into areas where the skin is tender, bruised, red, scaly or hard. Avoid areas with moles, scars or stretch marks.

The initial dosing is 20 mg of Kesimpta given by subcutaneous injection at Weeks 0, 1, and 2. There is no injection at Week 3. Starting at Week 4 and then every month, the recommended dose is 20 mg of Kesimpta administered by subcutaneous injection.

If you miss an injection at Week 0, 1, or 2, talk to your healthcare provider. If you miss a monthly injection, give it as soon as possible without waiting until the next scheduled dose. After that, use your injections a month apart.

Warnings

Kesimpta can cause serious side effects, including:

Infections. Serious infections can happen during treatment with this medicine. If you have an active infection, your healthcare provider should delay your treatment until your infection is gone. Kesimpta taken before or after other medicines that weaken the immune system may increase your risk of getting infections.

Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any infections or get any symptoms, including painful and frequent urination, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, fever, chills, cough, or body aches.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation. Before starting treatment, your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check for HBV. If you have ever had HBV infection, the HBV may become active again during or after treatment. Hepatitis B virus becoming active again (called reactivation) may cause serious liver problems, including liver failure or death. You should not receive this medicine if you have active hepatitis B liver disease. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for HBV infection during and after you stop using this medicine.

Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get worsening tiredness or yellowing of your skin or white part of your eyes during treatment.

Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML). PML may happen with this medicine. PML is a rare, serious brain infection caused by a virus that may get worse over days or weeks. PML can result in death or severe disability. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new or worsening neurologic signs or symptoms. These may include weakness on one side of your body, loss of coordination in arms and legs, vision problems, changes in thinking and memory which may lead to confusion and personality changes.

Weakened immune system. Kesimpta taken before or after other medicines that weaken the immune system could increase your risk of getting infections.

What other drugs will affect Kesimpta

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially drugs that weaken the immune system such as

cancer medicine

steroids

medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect Kesimpta, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.