Traceability: In order to improve the traceability of biological medicinal products, the name and the batch number of the administered product should be clearly recorded.
Cytokine release syndrome (CRS): Cytokine release syndrome, including life-threatening or fatal reactions, may occur in patients receiving TECVAYLI.
Clinical signs and symptoms of CRS may include but are not limited to fever, hypoxia, chills, hypotension, tachycardia, headache, and elevated liver enzymes. Potentially life-threatening complications of CRS may include cardiac dysfunction, adult respiratory distress syndrome, neurologic toxicity, renal and/or hepatic failure, and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).
Treatment should be initiated with TECVAYLI according to the step-up dosing schedule to reduce risk of CRS. Pre-treatment medicinal products (corticosteroids, antihistamine and antipyretics) should be administered prior to each dose of the TECVAYLI step-up dosing schedule to reduce risk of CRS (see Dosage & Administration).
The following patients should be instructed to remain within proximity of a healthcare facility and monitored daily for 48 hours: If the patient has received any dose within the TECVAYLI step-up dosing schedule (for CRS); If the patient has received TECVAYLI after experiencing Grade 2 or higher CRS.
Patients who experience CRS following their previous dose should be administered pre-treatment medicinal products prior to the next dose of TECVAYLI.
Patients should be counselled to seek medical attention should signs or symptoms of CRS occur. At the first sign of CRS, patients should be immediately evaluated for hospitalisation. Treatment with supportive care, tocilizumab and/or corticosteroids should be instituted, based on severity as indicated in Table 6 as follows. The use of myeloid growth factors, particularly granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), has the potential to worsen CRS symptoms and should be avoided during CRS. Treatment with TECVAYLI should be withheld until CRS resolves as indicated in Table 5 (see Dosage & Administration).
Management of cytokine release syndrome: CRS should be identified based on clinical presentation. Patients should be evaluated and treated for other causes of fever, hypoxia, and hypotension.
If CRS is suspected, TECVAYLI should be withheld until the adverse reaction resolves (see Table 5). CRS should be managed according to the recommendations in Table 6. Supportive care for CRS (including but not limited to anti-pyretic agents, intravenous fluid support, vasopressors, supplemental oxygen, etc.) should be administered as appropriate. Laboratory testing to monitor for disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), haematology parameters, as well as pulmonary, cardiac, renal, and hepatic function should be considered. (See Table 6.)
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Neurologic toxicities: Serious or life-threatening neurologic toxicities, including Immune Effector Cell-Associated Neurotoxicity Syndrome (ICANS) may occur following treatment with TECVAYLI.
Patients should be monitored for signs or symptoms of neurologic toxicities during treatment and treated promptly.
Patients should be counselled to seek medical attention should signs or symptoms of neurologic toxicity occur. At the first sign of neurologic toxicity, including ICANS, patients should be immediately evaluated and treated based on severity. Patients who experience Grade 2 or higher ICANS or first occurrence of Grade 3 ICANS with the previous dose of TECVAYLI should be instructed to remain within proximity of a healthcare facility and monitored for signs and symptoms daily for 48 hours.
For ICANS and other neurologic toxicities, treatment with TECVAYLI should be withheld as indicated in Table 5 (see Dosage & Administration).
Due to the potential for ICANS, patients should be advised not to drive or operate heavy machinery during the TECVAYLI step-up dosing schedule and for 48 hours after completing the TECVAYLI step-up dosing schedule and in the event of new onset of any neurological symptoms (see Effects on ability to drive and use machines as follows).
Management of neurologic toxicities: At the first sign of neurologic toxicity, including ICANS, neurology evaluation should be considered. Other causes of neurologic symptoms should be ruled out. TECVAYLI should be withheld until adverse reaction resolves (see Table 5). Intensive care and supportive therapy should be provided for severe or life-threatening neurologic toxicities. General management for neurologic toxicity (e.g., ICANS with or without concurrent CRS) is summarised in Table 7. (See Table 7.)
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Infections: Severe, life-threatening, or fatal infections have been reported in patients receiving TECVAYLI (see Adverse Reactions). New or reactivated viral infections occurred during therapy with TECVAYLI. Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) has also occurred during therapy with TECVAYLI.
Patients should be monitored for signs and symptoms of infection prior to and during treatment with TECVAYLI and treated appropriately. Prophylactic antimicrobials should be administered according to local institutional guidelines.
TECVAYLI step-up dosing schedule should not be administered in patients with active infection. For subsequent doses, TECVAYLI should be withheld as indicated in Table 5 (see Dosage & Administration).
Hepatitis B virus reactivation: Hepatitis B virus reactivation can occur in patients treated with medicinal products directed against B cells, and in some cases, may result in fulminant hepatitis, hepatic failure, and death.
Patients with evidence of positive HBV serology should be monitored for clinical and laboratory signs of HBV reactivation while receiving TECVAYLI, and for at least six months following the end of TECVAYLI treatment.
In patients who develop reactivation of HBV while on TECVAYLI, treatment with TECVAYLI should be withheld as indicated in Table 5 and manage per local institutional guidelines (see Dosage & Administration).
Hypogammaglobulinaemia: Hypogammaglobulinaemia has been reported in patients receiving TECVAYLI (see Adverse Reactions).
Immunoglobulin levels should be monitored during treatment with TECVAYLI. Intravenous or subcutaneous immunoglobulin therapy was used to treat hypogammaglobulinaemia in 39% of patients. Patients should be treated according to local institutional guidelines, including infection precautions, antibiotic or antiviral prophylaxis, and administration of immunoglobulin replacement.
Vaccines: Immune response to vaccines may be reduced when taking TECVAYLI.
The safety of immunisation with live viral vaccines during or following TECVAYLI treatment has not been studied. Vaccination with live virus vaccines is not recommended for at least 4 weeks prior to the start of treatment, during treatment and least 4 weeks after treatment.
Neutropenia: Neutropenia and febrile neutropenia have been reported in patients who received TECVAYLI (see Adverse Reactions).
Complete blood cell counts should be monitored at baseline and periodically during treatment. Supportive care should be provided per local institutional guidelines.
Patients with neutropenia should be monitored for signs of infection.
Treatment with TECVAYLI should be withheld as indicated in Table 5 (see Dosage & Administration).
Excipients: This medicinal product contains less than 1 mmol (23 mg) sodium per dose, that is to say essentially 'sodium-free'.
Effects on ability to drive and use machines: TECVAYLI has major influence on the ability to drive and use machines.
Due to the potential for ICANS, patients receiving TECVAYLI are at risk of depressed level of consciousness (see Adverse Reactions). Patients should be instructed to avoid driving and operating heavy or potentially dangerous machinery during and for 48 hours after completion of TECVAYLI step-up dosing schedule and in the event of new onset of any neurological symptoms (Table 3) (see Neurologic toxicities as previously mentioned and Dosage & Administration).