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avelumab (Bavencio)

Indications: - metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma - advanced urothelial carcinoma with disease progression after platinum-based chemotherapy [4] Dosage: - 10 mg/kg IV every 2 weeks - continue until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity Adverse effects: - most common - fatigue, musculoskeletal pain - diarrhea, nausea, decreased appetite - infusion-related reactions, rash - peripheral edema - serious adverse effects - immune-mediated effects. Mechanism of action: - PD-L1 inhibitor

Interactions

drug adverse effects of checkpoint inhibitor(s)

General

checkpoint inhibitor; immune checkpoint inhibitor; PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor antineoplastic monoclonal antibody

References

  1. Bankhead C FDA Approves Drug for Rare Skin Cancer. - Avelumab active in Merkel cell carcinoma. MedPage Today. March 23, 2017 https://www.medpagetoday.com/Dermatology/SkinCancer/64096 - Windle ML. FDA New Drug and Biologic Approvals -- 2017 Year-in-Review Medscape - Jan 11, 2018. https://reference.medscape.com/viewarticle/890871 - U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Novel Drug Approvals for 2017. https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DevelopmentApprovalProcess/DrugInnovation/ucm537040.htm
  2. Kaufman HL, Russell J, Hamid O et al Avelumab in patients with chemotherapy-refractory metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma: a multicentre, single-group, open-label, phase 2 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2016 Oct;17(10):1374-1385. Epub 2016 Sep 1. PMID: 27592805 Free PMC Article
  3. Apolo AB, Infante JR, Balmanoukian A et al Avelumab, an Anti-Programmed Death-Ligand 1 Antibody, In Patients With Refractory Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma: Results From a Multicenter, Phase Ib Study. J Clin Oncol. 2017 Jul 1;35(19):2117-2124. Epub 2017 Apr 4. PMID: 28375787 Free Article
  4. Powles T et al. Avelumab maintenance therapy for advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma. N Engl J Med 2020 Sep 18; [e-pub] PMID: 32945632 https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2002788