Unituxin

Unituxin treats neuroblastoma, a rare childhood cancer.

Unituxin Overview

Reviewed: March 10, 2015
Updated: 

Unituxin is a prescription medication used to treat high-risk neuroblastoma, a rare type of cancer that affects infants and young children. Unituxin is a monoclonal antibody that works by using the immune system to target and destroy tumor cells.

Unituxin comes in a liquid to be given by intravenous (IV) injection over a period of 10 to 20 hours for 4 days in a row. It may be given for up to 5 cycles.

Common side effects include pain, fever and low blood platelet counts.

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Unituxin Cautionary Labels

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Uses of Unituxin

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Unituxin is a prescription medication is approved for use, in combination with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and 13-cis-retinoic acid (RA), for the treatment of pediatric patients with high-risk neuroblastoma who achieve at least a partial response to prior first-line multiagent, multimodality therapy. Dinutuximab, the active ingredient, is a chimeric monoclonal antibody (also known as ch 14.18), composed of a combination of mouse and human DNA.
 
This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Manufacturer

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Generic

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Dinutuximab

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Unituxin Dosage

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The dose your doctor recommends will be based on several factors including:

  • the condition being treated
  • your height and weight
  • how your body responds to the medication

The recommended dose and schedule for Unituxin (dinutuximab) is 17.5 mg/m2/day as a diluted intravenous infusion over 10 to 20 hours for 4 consecutive days for up to 5 cycles. 

Unituxin FDA Warning

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WARNING: SERIOUS INFUSION REACTIONS AND NEUROPATHY

  • Infusion Reactions -Serious and potentially life-threatening infusion reactions occurred in 26% of patients treated with Unituxin. Administer required prehydration and premedication including antihistamines prior to each Unituxin infusion. Monitor patients closely for signs and symptoms of an infusion reaction during and for at least four hours following completion of each Unituxin infusion. Immediately interrupt Unituxin for severe infusion reactions and permanently discontinue Unituxin for anaphylaxis.
  • Neuropathy -Unituxin causes severe neuropathic pain in the majority of patients. Administer intravenous opioid prior to, during, and for 2 hours following completion of the Unituxin infusion. In clinical studies of patients with high-risk neuroblastoma, Grade 3 peripheral sensory neuropathy occurred in 2% to 9% of patients. In clinical studies of Unituxin and related GD2-binding antibodies, severe motor neuropathy was observed in adults. Resolution of motor neuropathy was not documented in all cases. Discontinue Unituxin for severe unresponsive pain, severe sensory neuropathy, or moderate to severe peripheral motor neuropathy.
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