Abecma (Idecabtagene vicleucel) for Myeloma

Overview
Abecma is a therapy approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma after four or more prior therapies, including an immunomodulatory agent, a proteasome inhibitor, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody. Abecma is also known by its drug name, idecabtagene vicleucel.

Abecma is used as a targeted therapy for multiple myeloma. Abecma is a member of a class of therapies called chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapies. Abecma is believed to work by modifying a person’s own immune cells to recognize and bind to the surface of abnormal cells, causing cell death.

How do I take it?
Prescribing information states that Abecma is given as an intravenous infusion (slow injection into your vein) by a healthcare professional. Abecma is usually given in a health clinic or doctor’s office. It should be administered according to the frequency specified by the physician.

Abecma is available only as an intravenous infusion.

Side effects
The FDA-approved label for Abecma lists common side effects including infections, fatigue, low blood antibody count, diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infection, nausea, edema (swelling), fever, cough, headache, decreased appetite, and pain of the muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons, and nerves.

Rare but serious side effects listed for Abecma include hypersensitivity reactions (overreactions of the immune system), severe infections, and long-term low blood cell counts.

For more details about this treatment, visit:

Abecma — Bristol-Myers Squibb
https://www.abecma.com

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