Retifanlimab-dlwr Injection

Retifanlimab-dlwr injection is used to treat Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC; a type of skin cancer) that has spread to other parts of the body or that has come back after treatment with other medications. Retifanlimab-dlwb is in a class of medications called monoclonal antibodies. It works by helping your immune system to slow or stop the growth of cancer cells.

🔔 How should this medicine be used?

Retifanlimab-dlwr comes as a solution (liquid) to be injected slowly into a vein over 30 minutes by a doctor or nurse. It is usually given once every 4 weeks for as long as your doctor recommends that you receive treatment.

Retifanlimab-dlwr injection may cause serious reactions during the infusion of the medication. You may be given other medications to treat or help prevent reactions to retifanlimab-dlwr. A doctor or nurse will monitor you carefully while you are receiving the medication. Tell your doctor or nurse immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms during the infusion: chills or shaking, itching, rash, flushing, shortness of breath, wheezing, dizziness, feeling faint, back or neck pain, or fever. Your doctor may need to slow down your infusion or delay or permanently stop your treatment if you experience these side effects.

Your doctor may also permanently or temporarily stop your treatment, or treat you with other medications if you experience other side effects. Be sure to tell your doctor how you are feeling during your treatment with retifanlimab-dlwr injection.

Your doctor or pharmacist will give you the manufacturer’s patient information sheet (Medication Guide) when you begin treatment with retifanlimab-dlwr and each time you refill your prescription. Read the information carefully and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. You can also visit the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website (http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm085729.htm) or the manufacturer’s website to obtain the Medication Guide.

🔔 Other uses for this medicine

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Preventable medical errors kill about 22,000 patients a year, according to research from the Yale School of Medicine. That’s much less than a previously reported number of 250,000 deaths a year where medical error is to blame.

🔔 What special precautions should I follow?

Before receiving retifanlimab-dlwr injection,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to retifanlimab-dlwr, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in retifanlimab-dlwr injection. Ask your pharmacist or check the Medication Guide for a list of the ingredients.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had an organ or bone marrow transplant and if you have or have ever had radiation therapy to your chest area; an autoimmune disease (condition in which the immune system attacks a healthy part of the body) such as Crohn’s disease (condition in which the immune system attacks the lining of the digestive tract causing pain, diarrhea, weight loss, and fever), ulcerative colitis (condition which causes swelling and sores in the lining of the colon [large intestine] and rectum), or lupus (condition in which the immune system attacks many tissues and organs including the skin, joints, blood, and kidneys); diabetes; thyroid problems; any type of lung disease or breathing problems; any condition that affects your nervous system such as myasthenia gravis (a disorder of the nervous system that causes muscle weakness) or Guillain-Barré syndrome (weakness, tingling, and possible paralysis due to sudden nerve damage); or kidney or liver disease.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. You will need to take a pregnancy test before you receive retifanlimab-dlwr injection. You should not become pregnant while you are receiving retifanlimab-dlwr injection. You should use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy during your treatment with retifanlimab-dlwr injection and for 4 months after your final dose. Talk to your doctor about birth control methods that will work for you. If you become pregnant while receiving retifanlimab-dlwr injection, call your doctor immediately. Retifanlimab-dlwr injection may harm the fetus.
• tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. You should not breastfeed while receiving retifanlimab-dlwr injection and for 4 months after your final dose.

🔔 What special dietary instructions should I follow?

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.