What is Blincyto used to treat?
BLINCYTO ® (blinatumomab) is a prescription medication used to treat a certain type of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in adults and children. ALL is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow in which a particular kind of white blood cell is replicating out of control.
How effective is Blincyto?
After a median of 22.4 months follow-up, 69% of patients treated with Blincyto were alive without leukemia recurrence compared with only 43% of patients treated with chemotherapy. The 36-month overall survival estimate was 81% for Blincyto treated patients versus 56% for chemotherapy.
How is Blincyto given?
BLINCYTO® is given by a continuous intravenous (IV) infusion. This means the medicine goes into your body through a vein. This happens for a 4-week period. One cycle is 4 weeks of continuous infusion followed by 2 weeks without infusion.
Is Blincyto considered chemotherapy?
BLINCYTO® is an immunotherapy that helps fight ALL. It is different from chemotherapy. BLINCYTO® works with your immune system to find and destroy cancer cells.
Is BLINCYTO FDA approved?
for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia. On March 29, 2018, the Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval to blinatumomab (Blincyto, Amgen Inc.)
What is the cost of BLINCYTO?
Amgen has just announced that blinatumomab (Blincyto) will cost about $178,000, making it one of the most expensive oncology drugs on the market. In a report from Reuters , an Amgen spokeswoman said the price reflected two courses of treatment, at $89,000 per cycle.
Is Blincyto an immunotherapy?
The immunotherapy drug blinatumomab (Blincyto) is more effective than chemotherapy in treating B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) that has relapsed in children and young adults, results from two clinical trials show.
What kind of drug is Blincyto?
Blinatumomab belongs to a class of drugs known as monoclonal antibodies. It works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells.
How often is BLINCYTO administered?
Interrupt BLINCYTO®. Administer dexamethasone 5 mg/m2 (maximum 8 mg) every 8 hours intravenously or orally for up to 3 days, and taper thereafter over 4 days.
What is the cost of Blincyto?