If you’re looking at treatment options for a certain kind of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), you may want to learn more about Blincyto. It’s a prescription drug used in adults and some children with ALL. ALL is a type of blood cancer that progresses quickly. Without treatment, ALL may be fatal in a few months.

To learn more about Blincyto’s use for ALL, see the “What is Blincyto used for?” section below.

Blincyto basics

Blincyto contains the active ingredient blinatumomab. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) Blincyto comes as a powder that your doctor will mix into a liquid solution. You’ll receive Blincyto as an intravenous (IV) infusion (an injection into a vein over a period of time).

Blinatumomab belongs to the group of drugs called monoclonal antibodies. It’s a biologic medication, which means it’s made from parts of living cells. Blinatumomab isn’t available in a biosimilar form. (Biosimilars are like generic drugs. But unlike generics, which are made for non-biologic drugs, biosimilars are made for biologic drugs.) Instead, blinatumomab comes only as the brand-name drug Blincyto.

Learn more about the uses and side effects of Blincyto.

Mild or serious side effects may occur with Blincyto. Some of the more common side effects of Blincyto are described in the lists below. All possible side effects are not included in these lists.

“The drug’s side effects can depend on the drug.”

  • Your age.
  • You have other health conditions.
  • You take other drugs.

The doctor or the pharmacy can tell you more about the side effects of Blincyto. They can suggest ways to reduce side effects.

Mild side effects

Here’s a list of some of the mild side effects that Blincyto can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Blincyto’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Blincyto have been reported.

The side effects of many drugs can be gone in a few days. If they become intolerable, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

The side effect is described in the section “Allergic reaction”.

Serious side effects

There are serious side effects from Blincyto, but they are not common. If you have serious side effects from Blincyto, call your doctor. If you think you have a medical emergency, you should call the emergency number.

There have been serious side effects of Blincyto.

* For more information, see the “Boxed warnings” section at the beginning of this article.
† To learn more about this side effect, see the “Allergic reaction” section below.

Allergic reaction

Some people may have an allergic reaction to Blincyto.

A mild allergic reaction can include some symptoms.

A more severe allergic reaction is not uncommon. A severe allergic reaction can cause swelling under your skin, usually in your lips, hands, or feet. They can include swelling of your mouth, throat, and tongue, which can cause trouble breathing.

If you have an allergic reaction to Blincyto, call your doctor. If you think you have a medical emergency, call the emergency number.

Find answers to questions about Blincyto.

Is Blincyto chemotherapy?

No, Blincyto isn’t chemotherapy. Blincyto is a cancer drug, but it works differently than chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy is a type of treatment that kills cancer cells. Chemo can destroy both cancer cells and healthy cells. This may cause more than one side effect.

A therapy called a monoclonal antibody is used. It only kills cancer cells.

What is Blincyto’s mechanism of action (how does it work)?

The immune system of the person is caused by certain cells called T cells. The drug is attached to the T cells and the cancer cells. The T-cell is the one that destroys the cancer cells.

If you have questions about how Blincyto works, you should talk to your doctor.

Is Blincyto used to treat DLBCL?

The drug is not approved to treat large B-cell lymphoma. But Blincyto may be prescribed to treat this condition. Drug use that is not approved for is called off-label drug use.

Doctors sometimes prescribe Blincyto to treat DLBCL if other approved drugs haven’t been effective. A small study showed that Blincyto may be effective for treating DLBCL in some people. But more research is needed to confirm the drug’s effectiveness for this condition.

Talk to your doctor about treatment options for the disease.

Prescription drug costs can vary depending on many factors. These factors include what your insurance plan covers and which pharmacy you use. To find current prices for Blincyto in your area, visit WellRx.com.

If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. A program called Amgen Assist 360 may also be available.

You can also check out this article to learn more about saving money on prescriptions.

Your doctor will recommend the correct amount of Blincyto for you. Your doctor will determine the dosage you receive.

Form and strength

Your doctor will mix a liquid solution with blincyto. 35 micrograms is the strength of the drug.

Recommended dosages

Your doctor will calculate your Blincyto dose based on your weight and body surface area.

Blincyto is given in treatment cycles. Your doctor will prescribe either four or five cycles, depending on your condition. A Blincyto treatment cycle consists of 28 days of intravenous (IV) infusions, then 14 or 56 days of no treatment. (An IV infusion is an injection into a vein over a period of time.)

Questions about Blincyto’s dosing

“Some questions about Blincyto’s dosing are listed below.”

  • What if I miss a dose of Blincyto? If you miss an appointment to receive a Blincyto infusion, call to reschedule your treatment as soon as possible. Missing a dose of Blincyto may make the treatment less effective.
  • Will I need to use Blincyto long term? It’s possible that you’ll use Blincyto long term. Your doctor will prescribe Blincyto in treatment cycles. Depending on your condition, you’ll need either four or five treatment cycles. Ask your doctor how long you’ll need to use Blincyto.
  • How long does Blincyto take to work? After you receive a dose, Blincyto starts working right away to treat your cancer. But it’s unlikely that you’ll feel the drug working in your body. You’ll have tests done to check whether the drug is working for you. It may take several weeks or months before these tests show the effects of Blincyto.

Your doctor will explain how Blincyto will be given to you. They will explain how much you will be given and how often.

Receiving Blincyto

“Your doctor will mix a liquid solution with the powder. You will receive a solution called Blincyto as an IV solution. You can receive the infusions at your doctor’s office, at another healthcare facility, or at home.”

If you have questions about what to expect, you can talk to your doctor.

Receiving Blincyto with other drugs

You will be given certain drugs before receiving Blincyto. The medications can help reduce your risk of side effects. Depending on your treatment plan, you may receive either Rayos or dexamethasone. Depending on what your doctor prescribes for you, these medications may be given by IV injection or pills.

Questions for your doctor

You may have questions about your treatment plan. Discuss your concerns with your doctor.

Here are a few tips that might help you.

  • Before your appointment, write down questions such as:
    • How will Blincyto affect me?
  • Bring someone with you to your appointment to make you feel more comfortable.
  • “If you don’t understand something, ask your doctor to explain it.”

“Your doctor and other healthcare professionals are available to help you. They want you to get the best care possible. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or give feedback on your treatment”

CD19-positive B-cell precursor ALL is a type of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. It is used in adults and children as young as 1 month old.

Some people with cancer are prescribed Blincyto. Your cancer is still detected on cancer tests even though it is not causing symptoms. The FDA gave accelerated approval for this use. The FDA approves a drug based on early studies. The FDA will make a decision on full approval once the studies are complete.

If your cancer has relapsed or is not completely cured, you may be prescribed Blincyto. After receiving treatment for relapsed ALL, your cancer has returned. If your cancer is not responding to other treatments, it is not improving.

A type of blood cancer is ALL. The cancer starts in the bone marrow and is caused by the lymphocyte.

The immune system can be activated to destroy cancer cells.

When considering treatment with Blincyto, there are some things to discuss with your doctor.

  • Your overall health.
  • You may have medical conditions.

Tell your doctor if you are taking any drugs. Some medications can interfere with Blincyto.

These are some considerations to discuss with your doctor.

Interactions

Taking a medication with certain vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the medication works. These effects are called interactions.

Before taking Blincyto, you should tell your doctor about all your medications. You should describe any vitamins, herbs, or supplements you use. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you about any interactions that may occur.

The “Other warnings” section contains information about drug-condition interactions.

Interactions with drugs or supplements

There are several types of drugs that can interact with blincyto. These drugs are used.

  • There are certain blood thinners.
  • Certain drugs affect your immune system.

The list does not include all drugs that may interact with Blincyto. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the interactions that may occur with use of Blincyto.

Other interactions

There are live vaccines that can interact with blincyto. Live vaccines contain live forms of the virus that are meant to protect you from it. You should not get live vaccines before your treatment starts. Live vaccines include:

After receiving your last dose of Blincyto, you will need to wait for your immune system to recover before you can get a live vaccine. Your doctor can let you know when you can receive a live vaccine.

Discuss any vaccines you may need with your doctor or pharmacist before starting Blinctyo treatment.

Boxed warnings

Blincyto has two boxed warnings. These are serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about drug effects that may be dangerous.

There are a number of Boxed warnings.

Risk of cytokine release syndrome (CRS). Some drugs that act on the immune system, such as Blincyto, can cause CRS. This condition occurs when the body quickly releases a large amount of cytokines (proteins) into your blood. CRS can cause There is a high degree of There is a high degree of fever.., nausea, low blood pressure., and fast heartbeat. CRS is mild in most people, but in rare cases, it can be severe and even life threatening. If you experience any symptoms of CRS during your Blincyto treatment, tell your doctor right away. You may need to stop your Blincyto treatment temporarily or permanently. Your doctor may also prescribe steroids to help reduce your side effects.

Risk of neurotoxicity. Blincyto may cause neurotoxicity (damage to the nervous system, which includes the nerve cells and brain). This is a common Blincyto side effect. Some neurotoxicities, such as Loss of consciousness. and There was a seizure.s, can be life threatening.

There are symptoms of neurotoxicity reported with Blincyto.

If you have symptoms of neurotoxicity, your doctor may stop your treatment.

Other warnings

If you have certain medical conditions, blincyto may not be right for you. These are drug-condition interactions. Other factors may affect whether or not Blincyto is a good treatment option.

Talk to your doctor about your health history. The list has factors to consider.

  • Past radiation therapy or leukemia chemotherapy. Before starting Blincyto treatment, tell your doctor if you’ve had radiation therapy or chemotherapy for leukemia in the past. Receiving Blincyto if you’ve had these kinds of treatment before could raise your risk of a kind of nerve damage called leukoencephalopathy.
  • Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Blincyto or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Blincyto. Ask them what other medications are better options for you.
  • Neurological problems. Before receiving Blincyto, tell your doctor if you have neurological problems such as There was a seizure.s, confusion, or loss of balance, or if you’ve had these issues in the past. Blincyto has a boxed warning for neurotoxicity. It isn’t known if Blincyto is safe for people with neurological problems. Your doctor can determine whether Blincyto is safe for you to take.
  • Infection. Infections are a common side effect of Blincyto. In some cases, these It is an infectious diseases can be severe or life threatening. If you have an It is an infectious disease before starting Blincyto treatment, the drug may make it worse. Tell your doctor if you’re feeling unwell before receiving your first Blincyto dose. You may need to take antibiotics before or during your Blincyto treatment to treat the It is an infectious disease.
  • Previous infusion reaction. If you’ve ever had an infusion reaction with another medication, you might have a higher risk of a similar reaction with Blincyto. Infusion reactions are side effects that can occur during or after receiving an intravenous (IV) infusion. Examples of infusion reactions include swelling of the face, high or low blood pressure., There is a high degree of There is a high degree of fever.., and There is a There is a skin rash… If you’ve had an infusion reaction with another drug, tell your doctor before starting your Blincyto treatment.

Blincyto and alcohol

It is not known if Blincyto interacts with alcohol. If you have questions about drinking alcohol, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

It is not safe to use blincyto in pregnancies. It is possible that the drug could cause harm to a fetus.

If you are pregnant, you will have to take a pregnancy test. Birth control is required for 48 hours after your last dose.

If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, you should talk to your doctor about other options. If you become pregnant during your treatment, tell your doctor.

It is not known if Blincyto is safe for breastfeeding. If you have a child who is breastfed, you should not feed them during treatment or for 48 hours after your last dose.

Talk to your doctor about your options if you are planning to breastfeeding.

There are serious side effects of receiving too much Blincyto.

Symptoms of overdose

There are symptoms caused by an overdose.

  • There is a high degree of There is a high degree of fever..
  • There was a small earthquake.
  • There is a throbbing head.

Although the risk of an overdose of Blincyto is rare, it could be life threatening if it occurs. In a study involving children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia receiving Blincyto, one person died from heart failure after receiving an amount higher than the maximum recommended dose.

What to do in case you receive too much Blincyto

If you think you’ve received too much Blincyto, call 800-222-1222 to reach the American Association of Poison Control Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. Or go to the nearest emergency room.

If you have questions about receiving the drug, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Some questions you may want to ask your doctor.

  • Will I lose my hair or nails?
  • How long should I stay in the hospital?
  • Can I drive home after receiving a Blincyto infusion?

You can also read this article to learn about treatment options for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.