Panitumumab (Intravenous)

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 4, 2022.

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Vectibix

Available Dosage Forms:

• Solution

Therapeutic Class: Immunological Agent

Pharmacologic Class: Monoclonal Antibody

Uses for panitumumab

Panitumumab injection is used alone or in combination with other medicines to treat metastatic cancer (cancer that spreads to other parts of the body) of the colon or rectum in patients who have already received other cancer treatments. Panitumumab injection should only be used in patients who have a wild type RAS (in both KRAS and NRAS) gene mutation test. This test helps the doctor decide whether the medicine will treat their cancer.

Panitumumab interferes with the growth of cancer cells, which are eventually destroyed by the body. Since the growth of normal body cells may also be affected by panitumumab, other effects will also occur. Some of these may be serious and must be reported to your doctor. Other effects, such as a skin rash, may not be serious but may cause concern. Some effects do not occur until months or years after the medicine is used.

Before you begin treatment with panitumumab, you and your doctor should talk about the benefits of panitumumab as well as the risks of using it.

Panitumumab will only be given by or under the immediate supervision of your doctor.

Before using panitumumab

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For panitumumab, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to panitumumab or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of panitumumab injection in children. However, safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of panitumumab injection in the elderly. However, some elderly patients are more likely to have unwanted side effects (eg, diarrhea), which may require caution in patients receiving panitumumab.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving panitumumab, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are tak..