Amivantamab
About Amivantamab
Amivantamab is a prescription medicine used to treat advanced non-small cell lung cancer with specific genetic mutations, especially when the cancer has spread or cannot be removed by surgery. It works by blocking proteins that cancer cells need to grow and multiply.
This medicine is given by intravenous infusion, so your healthcare provider will schedule and manage your treatment sessions. Attend all scheduled appointments to maintain treatment effectiveness. Depending on the cancer type, it may be used with lazertinib or certain chemotherapy medicines, as decided by your oncologist.
Since it is given directly into a vein, it does not need to be taken with or without food. Staying well hydrated before treatment is recommended. Protect your skin from the sun and keep it moisturised during treatment.
Common side effects include skin rash, dry skin, nail problems, and tiredness. Contact your healthcare team immediately if you develop sudden breathing difficulties, severe cough, fever, or vision changes. It can cause serious blood clots in the legs or lungs. Your doctor may consider preventive blood-thinning treatment and monitor for leg swelling, chest pain, or sudden difficulty breathing.
Before treatment, tell your doctor if you have lung or breathing problems, as this medicine can cause serious lung inflammation. Do not use it if you have had a severe allergic reaction to medicine or any of its ingredients. It may harm an unborn baby and should not be used during pregnancy unless specifically advised by your doctor.
Tell your healthcare team about all medicines you take, as some may increase the risk of lung or skin side effects. Avoid smoking during treatment because it can further irritate your lungs. If you are pregnant, planning pregnancy, breastfeeding, or are an older adult, discuss the appropriate safety measures with your doctor.
Uses of Amivantamab
Medicinal Benefits
When taken consistently as directed, this infusion may provide the following physiological benefits:
- Slows cancer growth: Targets specific signals that help certain lung cancer cells grow and may slow tumour progression.
- May reduce tumour size: In some patients, treatment may shrink existing tumours.
- May improve symptoms: By controlling the cancer, it may help relieve symptoms such as persistent cough or chest discomfort and improve daily comfort.
Directions for Use
- Follow your doctor's instructions on the dosage and timing of this medication.
- Amivantamab is administered by the doctor or nurse in a healthcare setting.
- Do not self-administer.
Storage
Side Effects of Amivantamab
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Skin rash or dry, itchy skin
- Redness, pain, or infection around the fingernails or toenails
- Feeling unusually tired or weak
- Nausea, loss of appetite, or constipation
- Swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet
Serious Side Effects (Consult your doctor right away):
- Sudden or worsening shortness of breath, cough, or fever (signs of lung inflammation)
- Severe skin peeling, blistering, or painful sores on your body
- Eye pain, changes in your vision, redness, or sensitivity to light
- Severe chills, flushing, dizziness, or chest tightness during or shortly after your infusion
- Sudden chest pain, difficulty breathing, or new leg pain or swelling (sign of blood clots)
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Report skin changes early: Skin reactions are very common. Let your healthcare team know at the first sign of a rash or nail pain so they can prescribe appropriate creams or treatments early.
- Monitoring: Your doctor may perform regular blood tests, eye examinations, and lung assessments during treatment to check for side effects and monitor your response.
- Watch the injection site: Notify the nurse immediately if you feel pain, burning, swelling, or redness at the site where the IV line is inserted during your infusion.
- Avoid live vaccines: Talk to your doctor before getting any vaccinations, especially live vaccines, as your immune system may be affected during treatment.
- Use reliable birth control: Use highly effective birth control during your treatment and for several months after your last dose, as this medicine can cause severe harm to a developing baby.
- Inform your doctor: Tell your doctor about all prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, herbal products, and immunosuppressive medicines you take before starting treatment.
- Treatment adjustments: If you develop significant side effects, your doctor may pause, slow, delay, or stop the infusion or adjust your treatment until it is safe to continue.
Drug Interactions
- Other skin-sensitising medications: Combining this medicine with other drugs that make your skin sensitive to light can worsen skin rashes and blistering.
- Medicines that cause lung inflammation: Using this medicine alongside other cancer therapies or drugs known to irritate the lungs can increase the risk of severe lung damage.
- Other medicines: Tell your doctor if you take other EGFR medicines (such as osimertinib), blood thinners (such as warfarin), immunosuppressants, or supplements, as these may affect your treatment or side-effect risk.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
consult your doctorIt is unknown if alcohol interacts with Amivantamab. Please consult a doctor if you have any concerns.
Pregnancy
unsafeAmivantamab is not recommended for use during pregnancy as it may cause fetal harm. Therefore, please inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant before using Amivantamab.
Breast Feeding
unsafeIt is not known if amivantamab passes into breast milk. Avoid breastfeeding during treatment with Amivantamab and for 3 months after the last dose.
Driving
cautionAmivantamab may cause dizziness, tiredness or temporary vision problems. Avoid driving or operating heavy machinery if you experience any of these.
Liver
cautionInform your doctor if you have liver impairment. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing Amivantamab.
Kidney
cautionInform your doctor if you have kidney impairment. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing Amivantamab.
Children
cautionAmivantamab is not recommended for children, as its safety and efficacy have not been established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Protect your skin from the sun: This medicine makes your skin highly sensitive to sunlight. Wear protective clothing, hats, and use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher daily, even on cloudy days.
- Keep your skin and nails moisturised: Apply a thick, alcohol-free moisturiser to your body daily to manage dry skin. Avoid harsh soaps, hot showers, and wear protective gloves when doing household chores to protect your nails.
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water and clear fluids throughout the day. Proper hydration supports your kidneys and helps your body cope with the physical strain of cancer treatment.
- Eat small, frequent meals: If you experience mild nausea or a loss of appetite, eating smaller portions throughout the day rather than three large meals can help maintain your energy levels and nutrient intake.
- Gentle physical activity: Engage in light exercises like short walks if you feel up to it. This can help combat treatment-related fatigue, but always listen to your body and rest when needed.
Special Advise
- Females of reproductive potential must use effective contraception during treatment and for 3 months after the last dose.
- Consult the doctor immediately if you become pregnant during treatment with Amivantamab.
- Amivantamab may cause skin reactions; therefore, wear protective clothing and use sunscreen. Also, limit your time in the sun during treatment and for 2 months after the treatment with Amivantamab.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most prevalent form of lung cancer. It grows more slowly than small cell lung cancer and includes subtypes like adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma. NSCLC is often diagnosed in later stages and may cause symptoms such as a persistent cough, chest pain, difficulty breathing, and weight loss.
FAQs
Amivantamab used in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer, growing more slowly than small cell lung cancer.
Amivantamab contains amivantamab, which targets and inhibits the activity of EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) and MET (mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor), both of which are involved in cancer cell growth and spread. Amivantamab disrupts pathways that promote cancer cell growth, helping to reduce tumor size and slow disease progression.
Amivantamab is an antibody targeting EGFR mutations. Your doctor may recommend a biomarker test to determine if this treatment is suitable for you. These tests identify specific biomarkers, including EGFR, to help guide the best treatment approach.
EGFR mutation is an alteration in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene, which can lead to uncontrolled cell growth and is commonly associated with cancers like non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most prevalent form of lung cancer. It grows more slowly than small cell lung cancer and includes subtypes like adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma. NSCLC is often diagnosed in later stages and may cause symptoms such as a persistent cough, chest pain, difficulty breathing, and weight loss.
Amivantamab may cause harm to an unborn baby and should not be used during pregnancy unless specifically determined appropriate by your healthcare professional. If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or plan to become pregnant, tell your doctor before starting treatment. If you could become pregnant, discuss effective contraception with your healthcare team and how long it should be used after treatment.
Amivantamab is administered as a slow intravenous (IV) infusion into a vein by a trained healthcare professional in a clinic or hospital. The treatment schedule and infusion duration depend on your condition, treatment regimen, and how you respond to treatment. It should not be self-administered at home.
You are recommended to inform your doctor before using any other medicines with Amivantamab. This helps ensure that there are no potential interactions or adverse effects between Amivantamab and the other medicines you may be using.
Common side effects may include rash, itching, muscle/joint pain, edema, shortness of breath, cough, constipation, changes in vision, chest discomfort, fever, and flushing. Seek medical care if the symptoms persist or worsen.
Some patients may feel dizzy, tired, or have mild reactions after their infusion. It is best to have someone drive you to and from your appointments, especially during the first few weeks of treatment. Talk to your doctor about whether it is safe for you to drive.
Yes. Amivantamab may cause skin reactions such as rash, itching, dryness, or acne-like skin changes. Use a gentle, alcohol-free moisturiser and protect your skin from excessive sun exposure with protective clothing and sunscreen. Avoid harsh or irritating skin products unless recommended by your healthcare team. Contact your healthcare team if you develop a rash, particularly if it is severe, painful, blistering, or worsening, as you may need specific treatment.
While this medicine is not a cure, it is designed to help control the growth and spread of specific cancer cells. This can help shrink tumours, delay the progression of the disease, and manage your symptoms. Talk to your doctor to understand what treatment success looks like for you.
It is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk, but because of the potential risk of serious side effects in a nursing infant, you should not breastfeed during treatment and for several months after your final dose. Talk to your doctor about the safest way to feed your baby.
Pre-medications like antihistamines, pain relievers, or steroids are given to reduce the likelihood and severity of infusion-related reactions, which are common during the first few sessions. Talk to your doctor if you want to know more about these preparatory medicines.
Eye problems, such as dry eyes or inflammation, can occur with this medicine. Avoid wearing contact lenses if you develop eye irritation, and use preservative-free lubricating eye drops if recommended by your healthcare provider. Talk to your doctor right away if you experience eye pain, redness, or changes in your vision.
