What is Empliciti (elotuzumab) for?
Elotuzumab is a cancer medicine used in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone to treat patients with multiple myeloma who have received one to three prior therapies2,3,4.
How does Empliciti (elotuzumab) work?
The active substance in Empliciti, elotuzumab, is a monoclonal antibody that activates the body’s immune cells to attack the multiple myeloma cancer cells. It does this by attaching to a protein on the surface of the immune cells called SLAMF7, causing them to act against the cancer cells and thereby slowing down the disease. Elotuzumab also attaches to SLAMF7 on the cancer cells, making them more vulnerable to attack by the immune cells1.
Is Empliciti (elotuzumab) approved?
Elotuzumab was approved for the treatment of multiple myeloma in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone as second or fourth line treatment by:
FDA (USA) on November 30, 20155
EMA (EU) on May 11, 20161
TGA (AUS) on September 22, 20164
Please note that this medicine may have also been approved in other regions than the ones we’ve listed. If you have a question about its approval in a specific country feel free to contact our support team.
How is Empliciti (elotuzumab) taken?
The standard dosage is for Empliciti (elotuzumab) is:
10 mg/kg administered intravenously every week for the first two cycles (1 cycle = 4 weeks) and every 2 weeks thereafter until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity
Administer with lenalidomide and dexamethasone
Complete information about elotuzumab dosage and administration can be found in the resources section2,3,4.
Note: Consult your treating doctor for personalised dosing.
Are there any known adverse reactions or side effects of Empliciti (elotuzumab)?
Common adverse reactions
The most common adverse reactions (20% or higher) a listed in the prescribing information include:
fatigue
diarrhea
pyrexia
constipation
cough
peripheral neuropathy
nasopharyngitis
upper respiratory tract
infection
decreased appetite
pneumonia
Serious adverse reactions
The serious adverse reactions listed in the prescribing information include:
infusion reactions
infections
Second Primary Malignancies (SPM)
hepatotoxicity.
Use in specific populations
Empliciti (elotuzumab) is administered in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone. Lenalidomide can cause embryo-fetal harm and is contraindicated for use in pregnancy. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in breast-fed infants from elotuzumab administered with lenalidomide and dexamethasone, breastfeeding is not recommended.
For a comprehensive list of side effects and adverse reactions please refer to the official prescribing information listed in our resources section2,3,7.
