What is a Patient Information Leaflet and why is it useful?

The Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) is the leaflet included in the pack with a medicine. It is written for patients and gives information about taking or using a medicine. It is possible that the leaflet in your medicine pack may differ from this version because it may have been updated since your medicine was packaged.

Black triangle. This medicinal product is subject to additional monitoring. This will allow quick identification of new safety information.

PDF icon Download Leaflet View the patient leaflet in PDF format

Below is a text only representation of the Patient Information Leaflet. The original can be viewed in PDF format using the link above.

The text only version may be available from RNIB in large print, Braille or audio CD. For further information call RNIB Medicine Leaflet Line on 0800 198 5000. The product code(s) for this leaflet is: EU/1/15/1047/001.

Blincyto

Package leaflet: Information for the patient

BLINCYTO 38.5 micrograms powder for concentrate and solution for solution for infusion

blinatumomab

▼This medicine is subject to additional monitoring. This will allow quick identification of new safety information. You can help by reporting any side effects you may get. See the end of section 4 for how to report side effects.

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine because it contains important information for you.

  • Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
  • If you have any further questions, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
  • If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

What is in this leaflet

1. What BLINCYTO is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you use BLINCYTO
3. How to use BLINCYTO
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store BLINCYTO
6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What BLINCYTO is and what it is used for

The active ingredient in BLINCYTO is blinatumomab. This belongs to a group of medicines called antineoplastic agents which target cancer cells.

BLINCYTO is used to treat adults with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is a cancer of the blood in which a particular kind of white blood cell called “B-lymphocyte” is growing out of control. This medicine works by enabling your immune system to attack and destroy these abnormal white blood cancer cells.

BLINCYTO is used to treat children (≥ 1 year old), teenagers and young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) when previous treatments have not worked or have stopped working.

2. What you need to know before you use BLINCYTO

Do not use BLINCYTO:

  • if you are allergic to blinatumomab or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
  • if you are breast-feeding.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before using BLINCYTO if any of these apply to you.

BLINCYTO may not be suitable for you:

  • if you have ever had neurological problems, for example, shaking (or tremor), abnormal sensations, seizures, memory loss, confusion, disorientation, loss of balance, or difficulty in speaking. If you are still suffering from active neurological problems or conditions, tell your doctor. If your leukaemia has spread to your brain and/or spinal cord, your doctor may have to treat this first before you can start treatment with BLINCYTO. Your doctor will assess your nervous system and conduct tests before deciding if you should receive BLINCYTO. Your doctor may need to take special care of you during your treatment with BLINCYTO.
  • if you have an active infection.
  • if you have ever had an infusion reaction after previously using BLINCYTO. Symptoms may include wheezing, flushing, face swelling, difficulty breathing, low or high blood pressure.
  • if you think you may need any vaccinations in the near future, including those needed to travel to other countries. Some vaccines must not be given within two weeks before, at the same time as or in the months after you receive treatment with BLINCYTO. Your doctor will check if you should have the vaccination.

Tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse immediately if you experience any of the following reactions whilst receiving BLINCYTO as these may need to be treated and your dose adjusted:

  • if you experience seizures, difficulty in speaking or slurred speech, confusion and disorientation, or loss of balance.
  • if you develop chills or shivering, or feel warm; you should take your temperature as you may have a fever - these may be symptoms of an infection.
  • if you develop a reaction at any time during your infusion, which may include dizziness, feeling faint, nauseated, face swelling, difficulty breathing, wheezing, or rash.
  • if you have severe and persistent stomach pain, with or without nausea and vomiting, as these may be symptoms of a serious and potentially fatal condition known as pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).

Your doctor or nurse will monitor you for signs and symptoms of these reactions.

Tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse immediately if you became pregnant whilst receiving BLINCYTO. Your doctor will talk to you about precautions in using vaccinations for your baby.

Before each infusion cycle of BLINCYTO, you will be given medicines which help reduce a potentially life-threatening complication known as tumour lysis syndrome, which is caused by chemical disturbances in the blood due to the breakdown of dying cancer cells. You may also be given medicines to reduce fever.

During treatment, especially in the first few days after treatment start, you may experience a severe low white blood cell count (neutropenia), severe low white blood cell count with a fever (febrile neutropenia), elevated liver enzymes, or elevated uric acid. Your doctor will take regular blood tests to monitor your blood counts during treatment with BLINCYTO.

Children and adolescents

BLINCYTO should not be used in children below 1 year of age.

Other medicines and BLINCYTO

Tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

If you are pregnant, are breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or nurse for advice before taking this medicine.

Contraception

Women who are able to become pregnant have to use effective contraception during treatment and for at least 48 hours after your last treatment. Talk to your doctor or nurse about suitable methods of contraception.

Pregnancy

The effects of BLINCYTO in pregnant women are not known but based on its mechanism of action, BLINCYTO may harm your unborn baby. You should not use BLINCYTO during pregnancy, unless your doctor thinks that it is the best medicine for you.

If you become pregnant during BLINCYTO treatment, please inform your doctor or nurse. Your doctor will talk to you about precautions in using vaccinations for your baby.

Breast-feeding

You must not breast-feed during and for at least 48 hours after your last treatment. It is not known whether BLINCYTO is excreted in breast milk but a risk for suckling baby cannot be excluded.

Driving and using machines

Do not drive, use heavy machines, or engage in hazardous activities while you are being given BLINCYTO. BLINCYTO can cause neurological problems such as dizziness, seizures, confusion, coordination and balance disorders.

BLINCYTO contains sodium

This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per dose, i.e. it is essentially ‘sodium- free’.

3. How to use BLINCYTO

Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor, pharmacist or nurse have told you. Check with your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you are not sure.

How BLINCYTO is given

BLINCYTO will be given to you through a vein (intravenous) continuously for 4 weeks using an infusion pump (this is 1 treatment cycle). You will then have a 2-week break where you will not be given the infusion. Your infusion catheter will be attached to you at all times during each cycle of your treatment.

BLINCYTO is usually given for 2 treatment cycles. If you respond to BLINCYTO treatment after the first 2 cycles, your doctor may decide to give you up to 3 additional cycles of treatment. The number of treatment cycles and the dose which you will be given will depend on how you tolerate and respond to BLINCYTO. Your doctor will discuss with you how long your treatment will last. Your treatment may also be interrupted depending on how you tolerate BLINCYTO.

It is recommended that the first 9 days of treatment will be given to you in a hospital or clinic under the supervision of a doctor or nurse experienced in the use of anti-cancer medicines. If you have or had neurological problems, it is recommended that the first 14 days of treatment will be given to you in a hospital or clinic. Your doctor will discuss with you if you can continue treatment at home after your initial hospital stay. Treatment may include a bag change by a nurse.

Your doctor will determine when your BLINCYTO infusion bag will be changed, which may range from every day to every 4 days. The infusion rate may be faster or slower depending on how often the bag is changed.

Your first cycle

If your body weight is greater than or equal to 45 kilograms the recommended initial dose in your first cycle is 9 micrograms per day for 1 week. Your doctor may decide to then increase your dose to 28 micrograms per day for weeks 2, 3, and 4 of your treatment.

If your body weight is less than 45 kilograms, the recommended initial dose in your first cycle will be based on your weight and height. Your doctor may decide to then increase your dose for weeks 2, 3, and 4 of your treatment.

Your next cycles

If your doctor determines that you should be given more cycles of BLINCYTO and if your body weight is greater than or equal to 45 kilograms, your pump will be set to infuse a dose of 28 micrograms per day.

If your doctor determines that you should be given more cycles of BLINCYTO and if your body weight is less than 45 kilograms, your pump will be set to infuse a dose based on your weight and height.

Medicines given before each cycle of BLINCYTO

Before your treatment with BLINCYTO, you will be given other medicines (pre-medication) to help reduce infusion reactions and other possible side effects. These may include corticosteroids (e.g. dexamethasone).

Infusion catheter

If you have a catheter for infusion, it is very important to keep the area around the catheter clean; otherwise you could get an infection. Your doctor or nurse will show you how to care for your catheter site.

Infusion pump and intravenous tubing

Do not adjust the settings on the pump, even if there is a problem or the pump alarm sounds. Any changes to the pump settings may result in a dose that is too high or too low.

Contact your doctor or nurse immediately if:

  • there is a problem with the pump or the pump alarm sounds
  • the infusion bag empties before the scheduled bag change
  • if the infusion pump stops unexpectedly. Do not try to restart your pump.

Your doctor or nurse will advise you on how to manage your daily activities around your infusion pump. Contact your doctor or nurse if you have questions.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Some of these side effects may be serious.

Tell your doctor immediately if you get any of the following or combination of the following side effects:

  • chills, shivering, fever, rapid heart rate, decreased blood pressure, aching muscles, feeling tired, coughing, difficulty breathing, confusion, redness, swelling or discharge in the affected area or at the site of the infusion line - these may be signs of an infection.
  • neurologic events: shaking (or tremor), confusion, disturbances of brain function (encephalopathy), difficulty in communicating (aphasia), seizure (convulsion).
  • fever, swelling, chills, decreased or increased blood pressure and fluid in the lungs, which may become severe - these may be signs of a so-called cytokine release syndrome.
  • if you have severe and persistent stomach pain, with or without nausea and vomiting, as these may be symptoms of a serious and potentially fatal condition known as pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).

Treatment with BLINCYTO can cause a decrease in the levels of certain white blood cells with or without fever (febrile neutropenia or neutropenia) or can lead to increased blood levels of potassium, uric acid, and phosphate and decreased blood levels of calcium (tumour lysis syndrome). Your doctor will take regular blood tests during treatment with BLINCYTO.

Other side effects include:

Very common side effects (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):

  • infections in the blood including bacteria, fungi, viruses, or other types of infection
  • decreased levels of certain white blood cells with or without fever ((febrile) neutropenia, leukopenia), decreased levels of red blood cells, decreased levels of platelets
  • fever, swelling, chills, decreased or increased blood pressure and fluid in the lungs, which may become severe (cytokine release syndrome)
  • not being able to sleep
  • headache, shaking (or tremor)
  • rapid heart rate (tachycardia)
  • low blood pressure
  • cough
  • nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain
  • rash
  • back pain, pain in extremity
  • fever (pyrexia), swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing (oedema), chills
  • low levels of antibodies called “immunoglobulins” which help the immune system fight infection (decreased immunoglobulins)
  • increased levels of liver enzymes (ALT, AST, GGT)
  • reactions related to infusion may include, wheezing, flushing, face swelling, difficulty breathing, low blood pressure, high blood pressure.

Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):

  • serious infection which can result in organ failure, shock or can be fatal (sepsis)
  • lung infection (pneumonia)
  • increased levels of white blood cell count (leucocytosis), decreased levels of certain white blood cells (lymphopenia)
  • allergic reaction
  • complications occurring after cancer treatment leading to increased blood levels of potassium, uric acid, and phosphate and decreased blood levels of calcium (tumour lysis syndrome)
  • confusion, disorientation
  • disturbances of brain function (encephalopathy) such as difficulty in communicating (aphasia), tingling of skin (paraesthesia), seizure, difficulty thinking or processing thoughts, difficulty remembering, difficulty in controlling movement (ataxia)
  • feeling sleepy (somnolence), numbness, dizziness
  • nerve problems affecting the head and neck such as visual disturbances, drooping eyelid and/or sagging muscles on one side of the face, difficulty hearing or trouble swallowing (cranial nerve disorders)
  • wheezing or difficulty in breathing (dyspnoea), breathlessness (respiratory failure)
  • high blood pressure (hypertension)
  • flushing
  • coughing with phlegm
  • increased bilirubin in the blood
  • bone pain
  • chest pain or other pain
  • high levels of some enzymes including blood enzymes
  • increase in your weight

Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):

  • excessive activation of white blood cells associated with inflammation (hemophagocytic histiocytosis)
  • swollen lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy)
  • fever, swelling, chills, decreased or increased blood pressure and fluid in the lungs, which may be severe and can be fatal (cytokine storm)
  • a condition which causes fluid to leak from the small blood vessels into your body (capillary leak syndrome)
  • difficulty in speaking

Additionally, the side effects that happened more often in adolescents and children include:

  • decreased levels of red blood cells (anaemia), decreased levels of platelets (thrombocytopenia), decreased levels of certain white blood cells (leukopenia)
  • fever (pyrexia)
  • reactions related to infusion may include face swelling, low blood pressure, high blood pressure (infusion-related reaction)
  • increase in your weight
  • high blood pressure (hypertension)

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly (see details below). By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

United Kingdom

Yellow Card Scheme
Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard

or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store

Ireland

HPRA Pharmacovigilance
Earlsfort Terrace
IRL - Dublin 2
Tel: +353 1 6764971
Fax: +353 1 6762517
Website: www.hpra.ie
e-mail: medsafety@hpra.ie

Malta

ADR Reporting
Website: www.medicinesauthority.gov.mt/adrportal

5. How to store BLINCYTO

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the label and carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

Unopened vials:

  • Store and transport refrigerated (2°C - 8°C).
  • Do not freeze.
  • Store in the original carton in order to protect from light.

Reconstituted solution (BLINCYTO solution):

  • When refrigerated, the reconstituted solution must be used within 24 hours. Alternatively the vials can be stored at room temperature (up to 27°C) for up to 4 hours.

Diluted solution (prepared infusion bag):

If your infusion bag is changed at home:

  • Infusion bags containing BLINCYTO solution for infusion will arrive in special packaging containing cooling packs.
    • Do not open the package.
    • Store the package at room temperature (up to 27°C).
    • Do not refrigerate or freeze the package.
  • The package will be opened by your nurse and the infusion bags will be stored in a refrigerator until infusion.
  • When refrigerated, the infusion bags must be used within 10 days of preparation.
  • Once at room temperature (up to 27°C) the solution will be infused within 96 hours.

Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.

6. Contents of the pack and other information

What BLINCYTO contains

  • The active substance is blinatumomab. Each vial of powder contains 38.5 micrograms of blinatumomab. Reconstitution with water for injections results in a final blinatumomab concentration of 12.5 micrograms/mL.
  • The other ingredients in the powder are citric acid monohydrate (E330), trehalose dihydrate, lysine hydrochloride, polysorbate 80, and sodium hydroxide.
  • The solution (stabiliser) contains citric acid monohydrate (E330), lysine hydrochloride, polysorbate 80, sodium hydroxide and water for injections.

What BLINCYTO looks like and contents of the pack

BLINCYTO is a powder for concentrate and solution for solution for infusion.

Each pack of BLINCYTO contains:

  • 1 glass vial containing a white to off-white powder.
  • 1 glass vial containing a colourless-to-slightly yellow, clear solution.

Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer

Amgen Europe B.V.
Minervum 7061
4817 ZK Breda
The Netherlands

Marketing Authorisation Holder

Amgen Europe B.V.
Minervum 7061
4817 ZK Breda
The Netherlands

Manufacturer

Amgen NV
Telecomlaan 5-7
1831 Diegem
Belgium

For any information about this medicine, please contact the local representative of the Marketing Authorisation Holder.

United Kingdom
Amgen Limited
Tel: +44 (0)1223 420305

This leaflet was last revised in August 2018.

Other sources of information

Detailed information on this medicine is available on the European Medicines Agency web site: http://www.ema.europa.eu.