Before starting treatment, your oncologist will determine if combination therapy, including TECENTRIQ, may be an option for treating your metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. Be sure to talk to your doctor about the best plan for you.
TECENTRIQ is a type of cancer immunotherapy. Researchers have found that some cancer cells can go undetected by your immune system. This can allow the cancer to grow and spread. Cancer immunotherapy can help to reactivate the immune system so that it can recognize cancer in the body. Cancer immunotherapy can also cause your immune system to attack normal organs and tissues in any area of your body and can affect the way they work. You should have a discussion with your doctor if you are considering cancer immunotherapy treatment.
Chemotherapy is a treatment that stops the growth of rapidly dividing cells such as cancer cells. Cancer immunotherapy is different. It treats patients by acting on their immune system. Cancer immunotherapy can boost the immune response in the body and teach the immune system how to identify and destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy and cancer immunotherapy can be used in combination. Both chemotherapy and cancer immunotherapy can affect normal cells.
There are many underlying causes that allow cancer to develop and grow. Different medicines target these different causes.
Depending on how you are responding to treatment, your oncologist will come up with a plan. TECENTRIQ has flexible dosing options and can be given every 2, 3, and 4 weeks. Together, you and your doctor can decide which treatment schedule is right for you.
Your oncologist will monitor your progress while you take TECENTRIQ. They will use tests and scans to see how you are responding to treatment.
Possible serious side effects with TECENTRIQ include, but are not limited to: lung problems, intestinal problems, liver problems, hormone gland problems, kidney problems, skin problems, problems in other organs, severe infusion reactions, and complications, including graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), in people who have received a bone marrow (stem cell) transplant that uses donor stem cells (allogeneic).
The most common side effects of TECENTRIQ when used alone include: feeling tired or weak, deceased appetite, nausea, cough, and shortness of breath.
The most common side effects of TECENTRIQ when used in lung cancer with other anti-cancer medicines include: feeling tired or weak, nausea, hair loss, constipation, diarrhea, and decreased appetite.
If you experience any symptoms while taking your medicines, it's a good idea to take note of them and discuss them with your doctor.
TECENTRIQ is covered by many commercial insurance plans, but coverage can vary. Your oncologist’s office can help you determine whether your plan provides coverage. There may be options to help you afford your TECENTRIQ, no matter what type of health insurance you have.
If you have questions or concerns about TECENTRIQ, your diagnosis, or your treatments, you should discuss them with your healthcare team. You can also call us at 1-877-436-3683.
Important Safety Information and Indication
Indication
What is TECENTRIQ?
TECENTRIQ is a prescription medicine used to treat:
Adults with a type of lung cancer called non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
- TECENTRIQ may be used alone as your first treatment when your lung cancer:
- has spread or grown, and
- your cancer tests positive for “high PD-L1”, and
- your tumor does not have an abnormal “EGFR” or “ALK” gene.
- TECENTRIQ may be used with the medicines bevacizumab, paclitaxel, and carboplatin as your first treatment when your lung cancer:
- has spread or grown, and
- is a type called “non-squamous NSCLC”, and
- your tumor does not have an abnormal “EGFR” or “ALK” gene.
- TECENTRIQ may be used with the medicines paclitaxel protein-bound and carboplatin as your first treatment when your lung cancer:
- has spread or grown, and
- is a type called “non-squamous NSCLC”, and
- your tumor does not have an abnormal “EGFR” or “ALK” gene.
- has spread or grown, and
- TECENTRIQ may be used alone when your lung cancer:
- has spread or grown, and
- you have tried chemotherapy that contains platinum, and it did not work or is no longer working.
- If your tumor has an abnormal “EGFR” or “ALK” gene, you should have also tried an FDA-approved therapy for tumors with these abnormal genes, and it did not work or is no longer working.
- has spread or grown, and
It is not known if TECENTRIQ is safe and effective when used:
- In children for the treatment of NSCLC.
What is the most important information about TECENTRIQ?
TECENTRIQ can cause your immune system to attack normal organs and tissues in any area of your body and can affect the way they work. These problems can sometimes become severe or life-threatening and can lead to death. You can have more than one of these problems at the same time. These problems may happen anytime during your treatment or even after your treatment has ended.
Call or see your healthcare provider right away if you develop any new or worse signs or symptoms, including:
Lung problems
- cough
- shortness of breath
- chest pain
Intestinal problems
- diarrhea (loose stools) or more frequent bowel movements than usual
- stools that are black, tarry, sticky, or have blood or mucus
- severe stomach-area (abdomen) pain or tenderness
Liver problems
- yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes
- severe nausea or vomiting
- pain on the right side of your stomach area (abdomen)
- dark urine (tea colored)
- bleeding or bruising more easily than normal
Hormone gland problems
- headaches that will not go away or unusual headaches
- eye sensitivity to light
- eye problems
- rapid heartbeat
- increased sweating
- extreme tiredness
- weight gain or weight loss
- feeling more hungry or thirsty than usual
- urinating more often than usual
- hair loss
- feeling cold
- constipation
- your voice gets deeper
- dizziness or fainting
- changes in mood or behavior, such as decreased sex drive, irritability, or forgetfulness
Kidney problems
- decrease in your amount of urine
- blood in your urine
- swelling of your ankles
- loss of appetite
Skin problems
- rash
- itching
- skin blistering or peeling
- painful sores or ulcers in mouth or nose, throat, or genital area
- fever or flu-like symptoms
- swollen lymph nodes
Problems can also happen in other organs.
These are not all of the signs and symptoms of immune system problems that can happen with TECENTRIQ. Call or see your healthcare provider right away for any new or worse signs or symptoms, including:
- Chest pain, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, or swelling of ankles
- Confusion, sleepiness, memory problems, changes in mood or behavior, stiff neck, balance problems, tingling or numbness of the arms or legs
- Double vision, blurry vision, sensitivity to light, eye pain, changes in eyesight
- Persistent or severe muscle pain or weakness, muscle cramps
- Low red blood cells, bruising
Infusion reactions that can sometimes be severe or life-threatening. Signs and symptoms of infusion reactions may include:
- chills or shaking
- itching or rash
- flushing
- shortness of breath or wheezing
- dizziness
- feeling like passing out
- fever
- back or neck pain
Complications, including graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), in people who have received a bone marrow (stem cell) transplant that uses donor stem cells (allogeneic). These complications can be serious and can lead to death. These complications may happen if you underwent transplantation either before or after being treated with TECENTRIQ. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for these complications.
Getting medical treatment right away may help keep these problems from becoming more serious. Your healthcare provider will check you for these problems during your treatment with TECENTRIQ. Your healthcare provider may treat you with corticosteroid or hormone replacement medicines. Your healthcare provider may also need to delay or completely stop treatment with TECENTRIQ if you have severe side effects.
Before you receive TECENTRIQ, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- have immune system problems such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or lupus
- have received an organ transplant
- have received or plan to receive a stem cell transplant that uses donor stem cells (allogeneic)
- have received radiation treatment to your chest area
- have a condition that affects your nervous system, such as myasthenia gravis or Guillain-Barré syndrome
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. TECENTRIQ can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment with TECENTRIQ. Females who are able to become pregnant:
- Your healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with TECENTRIQ.
- You should use an effective method of birth control during your treatment and for at least 5 months after the last dose of TECENTRIQ.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if TECENTRIQ passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for at least 5 months after the last dose of TECENTRIQ.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
The most common side effects of TECENTRIQ when used alone include:
- feeling tired or weak
- decreased appetite
- nausea
- cough
- shortness of breath
The most common side effects of TECENTRIQ when used in lung cancer with other anti-cancer medicines include:
- feeling tired or weak
- nausea
- hair loss
- constipation
- diarrhea
- decreased appetite
TECENTRIQ may cause fertility problems in females, which may affect the ability to have children. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have concerns about fertility.
These are not all the possible side effects of TECENTRIQ. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information about the benefits and side effects of TECENTRIQ.
You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
You may also report side effects to Genentech at 1-888-835-2555.
Please see full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for additional Important Safety Information.