Vedolizumab

Generic name: vedolizumab
Brand name: Entyvio
Dosage form: intravenous (infusion) injection
Drug class:Selective immunosuppressants

Medically reviewed by N. France, BPharm. Last updated on Apr 14, 2022.

What is vedolizumab?

Vedolizumab is a type of drug called a monoclonal antibody. It is used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

Vedolizumab is a targeted therapy that was designed to be a gut-selective immunotherapy. Other immunosuppressive drugs used for IBD affect the whole body.

Vedolizumab belongs to a class of drugs called integrin receptor antagonist. Its mechanism of action, or how it works, is by binding to α₄β₇ integrin on the surface of a type of white blood cell called memory T-lymphocytes. Binding to α₄β₇ integrin blocks it from interacting with MAdCAM-1 (mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1). This interaction plays a key role in causing the chronic inflammation seen in people with IBD.

Vedolizumab is a biological drug that was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2014. No biosimilars of vedolizumab have been approved by the FDA. Biosimilars are biological drugs that are highly similar and are designed to have the same effect on a person, but they are not identical to the original version of the drug.

What is vedolizumab used for?

Vedolizumab is a prescription medicine used in adults for the treatment of:

• moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis.
• moderately to severely active Crohn's disease.

It is not known if vedolizumab is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age.

Important information

Vedolizumab may cause serious side effects, including:

• Infusion-related and serious allergic reactions. These reactions can happen while you are receiving vedolizumab or several hours after treatment. You may need treatment if you have an allergic reaction. Tell your healthcare provider or get medical help right away if you get any of these symptoms during or after an infusion of vedolizumab: rash, itching, swelling of your lips, tongue throat or face, shortness of breath or trouble breathing, wheezing, dizziness, feeling hot, or palpitations (feel like your heart is racing).
• Infections. Vedolizumab may increase your risk of getting a serious infection. Before receiving vedolizumab and during treatment with vedolizumab, tell your healthcare provider if you think you have an infection or have symptoms of an infection such as fever, chills, muscle aches, cough, shortness of breath, runny nose, sore throat, red or painful skin or sores on your body, tiredness, or pain during urination.
• Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML). People with weakened immune systems can get progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) (a rare, serious brain infection caused by a virus). Although unlikely while receiving vedolizumab, a risk of PML cannot be ruled out. PML can result in death or...