Blinatumomab
Generic name: Blinatumomab
Brand name: Blincyto
Dosage form: intravenous (infusion) injection
Drug class:CD19 monoclonal antibodies
What is blinatumomab?
Blinatumomab is a cancer treatment for adults and children with certain types of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). ALL is a cancer of the blood which has one type of white blood cell that is growing out of control.
Blinatumomab is a monoclonal antibody which is a type of "targeted" cancer therapy. It targets specific proteins on the surface of the cancer cells. This tells your immune system to find and destroy cancer cells, which helps you to live longer.
Monoclonal antibodies only target specific cells so they may be less toxic to healthy cells.
What is blinatumomab used for?
Blinatumomab is a medicine given as an intravenous infusion to treat adults and children with:
- B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) which is in remission with molecular evidence of leukemia
- B-cell precursor ALL that has come back after treatment or did not respond well to earlier treatments.
Important information
Call your healthcare provider or get emergency medical help right away if you get any of the symptoms listed below.
Blinatumomab may cause serious side effects that can be severe, life-threatening, or lead to death, including:
- Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS) and Infusion Reactions. Symptoms of CRS and infusion reactions may include:
- fever
- vomiting
- tiredness or weakness
- chills
- dizziness
- face swelling
- headache
- wheezing or trouble breathing
- low blood pressure
- skin rash
- nausea
- Neurologic problems. Symptoms of neurologic problems may include:
- seizures
- loss of balance
- difficulty in speaking or slurred speech
- headache
- loss of consciousness
- difficulty with facial movements, hearing, vision, or swallowing
- trouble sleeping
- confusion and disorientation
Your healthcare provider will check for these problems during treatment with this medicine. Your healthcare provider may temporarily stop or completely stop your treatment, if you have severe side effects.
See “What are the side effects of blinatumomab?” below on this page for other side effects of this medicine.
Who should not receive blinatumomab?
Do not receive this medicine if you are allergic to blinatumomab or to any of the inactive ingredients of this medicine. See the end of this page for a complete list of ingredients in this preparation.
What should I tell my doctor before receiving blinatumomab?
Before receiving this medicine, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you or your child being treated:
- have a history of neurological problems, such as seizures, confusion, trouble speaking or loss of balance
- have an infection
- have ever had an infusion reaction aft.
