Carvykti: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects & Warnings

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# Carvykti

Generic name: ciltacabtagene autoleucel
Dosage form: suspension for intravenous infusion
Drug class: Miscellaneous antineoplastics

Medically reviewed by Judith Stewart, BPharm. Last updated on Mar 14, 2022.

## What is Carvykti?

- Carvykti is a treatment used for adult patients who have cancer of the bone marrow called multiple myeloma. It is used when at least four other kinds of treatment have not worked or have stopped working.
- Carvykti is a medicine made from your own white blood cells, which have been changed (genetically modified) to recognize and attack your multiple myeloma cells.

## Important information

Carvykti may cause side effects that are severe or life-threatening and can lead to death. Call your healthcare provider or get emergency help right away if you get any of the following:

- fever (100.4°F/38°C or higher)
- chills or shaking chills
- fast or irregular heartbeat
- difficulty breathing
- very low blood pressure
- dizziness/light headedness
- effects on your nervous system, some of which can occur days or weeks after you receive the infusion, and may initially be subtle such as:
  - feeling confused, less alert, or disoriented, having difficulty speaking or slurred speech, having difficulty reading, writing, and understanding words, memory loss
  - loss of coordination affecting movement and balance, slower movements, changes in handwriting
  - personality changes including a reduced ability to express emotions, being less talkative, disinterest in activities, and reduced facial expression
  - tingling, numbness, and pain of hands and feet, difficulty walking, leg and/or arm weakness, and difficulty breathing
  - facial numbness, difficulty moving muscle of face and eyes

It is important that you tell your healthcare providers that you have received Carvykti and to show them your Carvykti Patient Wallet Card. Your healthcare providers may give you other medicines to treat your side effects.

## Related/similar drugs

Darzalex, Revlimid, Velcade, Pomalyst, Kyprolis, Ninlaro

## Before you receive Carvykti

Before you receive Carvykti tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you have:

- Current or past neurologic problems (such as seizures, stroke, new or worsening memory loss)
- Lung or breathing problems
- Heart problems
- Liver problems
- Kidney problems
- A recent or active infection
- Low blood counts

Carvykti pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (more detail)

## What other drugs will affect Carvykti?

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Some commercial Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) tests may incorrectly give you an HIV-positive result while you are receiving treatment with Carvykti.

Carvykti drug interactions (more detail)

## How will I receive Carvykti?

- Carvykti is made from your own white blood cells, so your blood will be collected by a process called leukapheresis. The procedure can take 3 to 6 hours and may need to be repeated.
- Your white blood cells are sent to a manufacturing center to make Carvykti. It takes about 4-5 weeks from the time your cells are received at the manufacturing site and are available to be shipped back to your healthcare provider, but the time may vary.
- While Carvykti is being made you may get other medicines to treat the multiple myeloma. This is so that your multiple myeloma does not get worse.

Before you receive Carvykti, your healthcare provider will give you chemotherapy for 3 days to prepare your body.

Thirty to sixty minutes before you are given Carvykti, you may be given other medicines. These may include:

- medicines for an allergic reaction (antihistamines)
- medicines for fever (such as acetaminophen)

When your Carvykti is ready, your healthcare provider will give Carvykti to you through a catheter (tube) placed into your vein (intravenous infusion). Your dose will be given in one infusion bag. The infusion usually takes approximately 30-60 minutes.

After receiving Carvykti, you will be monitored at the certified healthcare facility where you received your treatment for at least 10 days after the infusion.

You should plan to stay close to the location where you received your treatment for at least 4 weeks. Your healthcare provider will check to see that your treatment is working and help you with any side effects that may occur.

You may be hospitalized if you develop serious side effects until your side effects are under control and it is safe for you to leave the hospital.

Your healthcare provider will want to do blood tests to follow your progress. It is important that you have your blood tested. If you miss an appointment, call your healthcare provider as soon as possible to reschedule.

## Dosing information

Usual Adult Dose for Multiple Myeloma

- recommended dose range is 0.5-1.0×106 CAR-positive viable T cells per kg of body weight, with a maximum dose of 1×108 CAR-positive viable T cells per single-dose infusion.
For autologous use only. For intravenous use only. Administer a lymphodepleting regimen of cyclophosphamide and fludarabine before infusion of Carvykti.
Premedicate with acetaminophen and an H1-antihistamine.

- Use: treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma after four or more prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor, an immunomodulatory agent, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody.

Detailed Carvykti dosage information

## What should I avoid after receiving Carvykti?

- Do not drive, or operate heavy machinery, or do other activities that could be dangerous if you are not mentally alert, for at least 8 weeks after you get Carvykti. This is because the treatment can cause memory and coordination problems, sleepiness, confusion, dizziness, seizures, or other neurologic side effects as discussed by your healthcare provider.
- You must not be given certain vaccines called live vaccines for some time before and after Carvykti treatment. Talk to your healthcare provider if you need to have any vaccinations.
- Do not donate blood, organs, tissues, or cells for transplantation.

## Carvykti side effects

The most common side effects include:

- fever (100.4°F/38°C or higher), chills
- dizziness or light-headedness
- headache, muscle or joint pain, feeling very tired
- altered mental state, confusion
- infections
- low levels of antibodies (immunoglobulins) in the blood
- cough, being short of breath
- diarrhea, nausea, decreased appetite, constipation
- fast or irregular heartbeat
- problems with blood clotting

Carvykti can cause a very common side effect called cytokine release syndrome or CRS, which can be severe or fatal. Symptoms of CRS include fever, difficulty breathing, dizziness or lightheadedness, nausea, headache, fast heartbeat, low blood pressure, or fatigue. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop fever or any of these other symptoms after receiving Carvykti.

Carvykti can increase the risk of life-threatening infections that may lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop fever, chills, or any signs or symptoms of an infection.

Carvykti can cause various neurologic side effects, some of which may be severe or fatal.
Symptoms include but are not limited to confusion, disorientation, loss of consciousness, seizures, difficulty speaking, reading or writing, tremor, slower movements, changes in personality, seizures, depression, tingling and numbness of hands and feet, leg and arm weakness, and facial numbness.

Carvykti can lower one or more types of your blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets [cells that help blood to clot]), which may make you feel weak or tired or increase your risk of severe infection or bleeding. After treatment, your healthcare provider will test your blood to check for this. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get a fever, chills, or any signs or symptoms of an infection, are feeling tired, or have bruising or bleeding.

Having Carvykti in your blood may cause some commercial Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) tests to incorrectly give you an HIV-positive result even though you may be HIV-negative.

These are not all the possible side effects. Call your healthcare provider if you have any side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Carvykti side effects (more detail)

## General information about the safe and effective use of Carvykti

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask your healthcare provider for information that is written for health professionals. For more information go to www.Carvykti.com or call 1 800-526-7736.

## What are the ingredients in Carvykti?

Active ingredient: ciltacabtagene autoleucel
Inactive ingredients: DMSO

## More about Carvykti (ciltacabtagene autoleucel)

- Check interactions
- Pricing & coupons
- Drug images
- Side effects
- Dosage information
- During pregnancy
- FDA approval history
- Drug class: miscellaneous antineoplastics
- En español

### Professional resources

- Prescribing Information

### Related treatment guides

- Multiple Myeloma

## Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer