inebilizumab (Rx)

Brand and Other Names:Uplizna, inebilizumab-cdon

Dosing & Uses

AdultPediatric

Dosage Forms & Strengths

injection, solution

  • 100mg/10mL (10mg/mL) single-dose vials

Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder

Indicated for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) in adults who are antiaquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody positive

Initial doses: 300 mg IV x 1 dose; follow 2 weeks later by a second 300-mg IV infusion

Subsequent doses (starting 6 months from first infusion): 300 mg IV q6Months

Premedication before each infusion

  • 30 minutes before
    • IV corticosteroid (eg, methylprednisolone 80-125 mg or equivalent)
  • 30-60 minutes before
    • PO antihistamine (eg, diphenhydramine 25-50 mg or equivalent)
    • PO antipyretic (eg, acetaminophen 500-650 mg)

Dosage Modifications

Renal or hepatic impairment

  • Clinical studies not conducted

Dosing Considerations

Assessments before first dose

  • Hepatitis B virus (HBV) screening
    • Contraindicated with active HBV infection confirmed by positive results for surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HBV tests
    • For patients who are negative for HBsAg and positive for HB core antibody (HBcAb+) or are carriers of HBV (HBsAg+), consult liver disease experts before initiating and during treatment
  • Serum immunoglobulins
    • Perform testing for quantitative serum immunoglobulins
    • For patients with low serum immunoglobulins, consult immunology experts before initiating
  • Tuberculosis (TB) screening
    • Evaluate for active TB and test for latent infection
    • For patients with active TB or positive TB screening without a history of appropriate treatment, consult infectious disease experts before initiating
  • Vaccinations
    • Vaccination with live-attenuated or live vaccines is not recommended during treatment and after discontinuation until B-cell repletion
    • Administer all immunizations according to immunization guidelines at least 4 weeks before initiating inebilizumab for live or live-attenuated vaccines

Safety and efficacy not established

Next:

Interactions

Interaction Checker

and inebilizumab

No Results

     activity indicator 
    No Interactions Found
    Interactions Found

    Contraindicated

      Serious - Use Alternative

        Significant - Monitor Closely

          Minor

            All Interactions Sort By:
             activity indicator 

            Contraindicated (0)

              Serious - Use Alternative (7)

              • axicabtagene ciloleucel

                inebilizumab, axicabtagene ciloleucel. Either increases effects of the other by immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Avoid or Use Alternate Drug.

              • brexucabtagene autoleucel

                inebilizumab, brexucabtagene autoleucel. Either increases effects of the other by immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Avoid or Use Alternate Drug.

              • ciltacabtagene autoleucel

                inebilizumab, ciltacabtagene autoleucel. Either increases effects of the other by immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Avoid or Use Alternate Drug.

              • idecabtagene vicleucel

                inebilizumab, idecabtagene vicleucel. Either increases effects of the other by immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Avoid or Use Alternate Drug.

              • lisocabtagene maraleucel

                inebilizumab, lisocabtagene maraleucel. Either increases effects of the other by immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Avoid or Use Alternate Drug.

              • tisagenlecleucel

                inebilizumab, tisagenlecleucel. Either increases effects of the other by immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Avoid or Use Alternate Drug.

              • upadacitinib

                inebilizumab, upadacitinib. Either increases effects of the other by immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Contraindicated.

              Monitor Closely (3)

              • efgartigimod alfa

                efgartigimod alfa will decrease the level or effect of inebilizumab by receptor binding competition. Use Caution/Monitor. Coadministration of efgartigimod with medications that bind to the human neonatal Fc receptor may lower systemic exposures and effectiveness of such medications. Closely monitor for reduced effectiveness of medications that bind to the human neonatal Fc receptor. If long-term use of such medications is essential, consider discontinuing efgartigimod and using alternative therapies.

              • isavuconazonium sulfate

                inebilizumab and isavuconazonium sulfate both decrease immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Use Caution/Monitor.

              • ublituximab

                ublituximab and inebilizumab both increase immunosuppressive effects; risk of infection. Modify Therapy/Monitor Closely. Owing to potential additive immunosuppressive effects, consider duration of effect and mechanism of action of these therapies if coadministered

              Minor (0)

                Previous
                Next:

                Adverse Effects

                >10%

                Urinary tract infection (11%)

                1-10%

                Arthralgia (10%)

                Infusion-related reaction, first dose (9.3%)

                Headache (8%)

                Back pain (7%)

                Decreased neutrophils, 1-1.5 x109/L (6.9%)

                Previous
                Next:

                Warnings

                Contraindications

                History of life-threatening infusion reaction to inebilizumab

                Active HBV infection

                Active or untreated latent TB

                Cautions

                Progressive and prolonged hypogammaglobulinemia may occur; monitor levels of quantitative serum immunoglobulins during treatment and until B-cell repletion after discontinuation of therapy, especially in patients with opportunistic or recurrent infections; consider discontinuing if low IgG or IgM develops or a serious infection

                Based on animal data, can cause fetal harm owing to B-cell lymphopenia

                Infusion reactions

                • Can cause infusion reactions, which can include headache, nausea, somnolence, dyspnea, fever, myalgia, rash, or other signs or symptoms
                • Reactions are most common with initial infusion, but were also observed during subsequent infusions
                • Premedication with IV corticosteroid, antihistamine, and antipyretic required before every infusion
                • For life-threatening infusion reactions, immediately and permanently discontinue and administer appropriate supportive treatment
                • For less severe infusion reactions, management may involve temporarily stopping infusion, reducing infusion rate, and/or administering symptomatic treatment

                Infections

                • Increased risk infections observed with other B-cell-depleting therapies
                • Risks include additive effects if coadministered with other immunosuppressants, HBV reactivation, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, TB reactivation, or risk from live virus administration

                Drug interaction overview

                • Immunosuppressive drugs
                  • Coadministration with immunosuppressant drugs, including systemic corticosteroids, may increase risk of infection
                • Vaccines
                  • Administer all needed vaccines at least 4 weeks before initiating inebilizumab
                  • Vaccination with live-attenuated or live vaccines is not recommended during treatment and until B-cell repletion
                • Vaccination of infants born to mothers treated during pregnancy
                  • Do not administer live or live-attenuated vaccines before confirming recovery of B-cell counts in the infant
                  • Depletion of B cells in these exposed infants may increase the risks from live or live-attenuated vaccines
                  • Nonlive vaccines, as indicated, may be administered before recovery from B-cell and immunoglobulin level depletion; consider consultation with a qualified specialist to assess whether a protective immune response was mounted
                Previous
                Next:

                Pregnancy & Lactation

                Pregnancy

                Humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody and immunoglobulins are known to cross the placental barrier

                Data are not available on developmental risk associated with use in pregnant females; however, transient peripheral B-cell depletion and lymphocytopenia have been reported in infants born to mothers exposed to other B-cell depleting antibodies during pregnancy

                The potential duration of B-cell depletion in such infants, and the impact of B-cell depletion on vaccine safety and effectiveness, is unknown

                Contraception

                • Females of childbearing potential should use contraception during therapy and for 6 months after the last infusion

                Animal data

                • Administration to mice q3days throughout organogenesis and lactation resulted in depletion of B cells and persistent reductions in immune function (even following repletion of B cells and lasting into adulthood) in offspring

                Lactation

                Data are not available on presence in human milk, effects on breastfed infants, or on milk production

                Human IgG is excreted in human milk, and the potential for absorption of inebilizumab to lead to B-cell depletion in the breastfed infant is unknown

                Pregnancy Categories

                A: Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.

                B: May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk.

                C: Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done.

                D: Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk.

                X: Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist.

                NA: Information not available.

                Previous
                Next:

                Pharmacology

                Mechanism of Action

                Monoclonal antibody that binds with high affinity to CD19, a protein expressed on a broad range of B cells, including antibody-secreting plasmablasts and plasma cells; after binding to CD19, these cells are rapidly depleted from circulation

                In NMOSD, ~80% of patients have autoantibodies to a water channel protein called aquaporin-4 (AQP4); these AQP4-IgG autoantibodies are produced by plasmablasts and plasma cells and bind primarily to astrocytes in the central nervous system; binding of AQP4-IgG antibodies to CNS cells is believed to trigger attacks, which can damage the optic nerve, spinal cord, and brain

                Absorption

                Peak plasma concentration: 108 mcg/mL (second dose on Day 15)

                AUC: 2980 mcg⋅d/mL

                Distribution

                Vd: 2.95 L (central); 2.57 L (peripheral)

                Metabolism

                Degraded by proteolytic enzymes widely distributed in the body

                Elimination

                Half-life: 18 days

                Clearance: 0.19 L/day

                Previous
                Next:

                Administration

                IV Compatibilities

                0.9% NaCl

                IV Preparation

                Must be diluted before administration

                Before starting IV infusion, prepared infusion solution should be at room temperature

                Visually inspect solution for particulate matter and discoloration; solution should appear clear to slightly opalescent, colorless to slightly yellow

                If solution is cloudy, discolored, or contains discrete particulate matter, do not use and contact the manufacturer (productsafety@vielabio.com)

                Do not shake vial

                Withdraw 10 mL inebilizumab from each of the 3 vials contained in the carton and transfer a total of 30 mL into a 250-mL IV bag of 0.9% NaCl

                Do not use other diluents to dilute

                Mix diluted solution by gentle inversion; do not shake

                Discard unused portion remaining in vials

                IV Administration

                Assess for active infection; if present, delay inebilizumab infusion until infection resolves

                Administer premedications starting 30-60 minutes before inebilizumab infusion

                Administer prepared inebilizumab solution IV via infusion pump at an increasing rate to completion, ~90 minutes

                Close supervision by healthcare profession with access to appropriate emergency treatment is needed to manage potential reactions (eg, serious infusion reaction)

                Administer through an IV line containing a sterile, low-protein–binding (0.2 or 0.22 micron) in-line filter

                Monitor closely for infusion reactions during and for at least 1 hr after infusion completed

                Infusion rate recommendations

                • 0-30 minutes: 42 mL/hr
                • 31-60 minutes: 125 mL/hr
                • 61 minutes to completion: 333 mL/hr

                Storage

                Contains no preservative

                Unopened vial

                • Refrigerate at 2-8ºC (36-46ºF) in original carton to protect from light
                • Do not freeze
                • Do not shake
                • Store vials upright

                Diluted solution for infusion

                • Refrigerate at 2-8ºC (36-46ºF) for up to 24 hr or at room temperature at 20-25ºC (68-77ºF) for up to 4 hr prior to starting infusion
                Previous
                Next:

                Images

                No images available for this drug.
                Previous
                Next:

                Patient Handout

                A Patient Handout is not currently available for this monograph.
                Previous
                Next:

                Formulary

                FormularyPatient Discounts

                Adding plans allows you to compare formulary status to other drugs in the same class.

                To view formulary information first create a list of plans. Your list will be saved and can be edited at any time.

                Adding plans allows you to:

                • View the formulary and any restrictions for each plan.
                • Manage and view all your plans together – even plans in different states.
                • Compare formulary status to other drugs in the same class.
                • Access your plan list on any device – mobile or desktop.

                The above information is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. Individual plans may vary and formulary information changes. Contact the applicable plan provider for the most current information.

                Tier Description
                1 This drug is available at the lowest co-pay. Most commonly, these are generic drugs.
                2 This drug is available at a middle level co-pay. Most commonly, these are "preferred" (on formulary) brand drugs.
                3 This drug is available at a higher level co-pay. Most commonly, these are "non-preferred" brand drugs.
                4 This drug is available at a higher level co-pay. Most commonly, these are "non-preferred" brand drugs or specialty prescription products.
                5 This drug is available at a higher level co-pay. Most commonly, these are "non-preferred" brand drugs or specialty prescription products.
                6 This drug is available at a higher level co-pay. Most commonly, these are "non-preferred" brand drugs or specialty prescription products.
                NC NOT COVERED – Drugs that are not covered by the plan.
                Code Definition
                PA Prior Authorization
                Drugs that require prior authorization. This restriction requires that specific clinical criteria be met prior to the approval of the prescription.
                QL Quantity Limits
                Drugs that have quantity limits associated with each prescription. This restriction typically limits the quantity of the drug that will be covered.
                ST Step Therapy
                Drugs that have step therapy associated with each prescription. This restriction typically requires that certain criteria be met prior to approval for the prescription.
                OR Other Restrictions
                Drugs that have restrictions other than prior authorization, quantity limits, and step therapy associated with each prescription.
                Additional Offers
                Email to Patient

                From:

                To:

                The recipient will receive more details and instructions to access this offer.

                By clicking send, you acknowledge that you have permission to email the recipient with this information.

                Email Forms to Patient

                From:

                To:

                The recipient will receive more details and instructions to access this offer.

                By clicking send, you acknowledge that you have permission to email the recipient with this information.

                Previous
                Medscape prescription drug monographs are based on FDA-approved labeling information, unless otherwise noted, combined with additional data derived from primary medical literature.