Blinatumomab
Also sold as: Blincyto
Related Medications
These drugs share a pharmacologic classification but are NOT interchangeable. Listing here does not imply clinical equivalence. A physician must evaluate each drug individually for the patient's specific condition.
Classification: Recombinant Fusion Proteins (source: RxClass/NLM)
Insurance Coverage User-Reported
No community coverage data yet for blinatumomab.
Coverage data submission coming soon.
Drug Information
Mechanism of Action
12.1 Mechanism of Action Blinatumomab is a bispecific CD19-directed CD3 T-cell engager that binds to CD19 expressed on the surface of cells of B-lineage origin and CD3 expressed on the surface of T-cells. It activates endogenous T-cells by connecting CD3 in the T-cell receptor (TCR) complex with CD19 on benign and malignant B-cells. Blinatumomab mediates the formation of a synapse between the T-cell and the tumor cell, upregulation of cell adhesion molecules, production of cytolytic proteins, release of inflammatory cytokines, and proliferation of T-cells, which result in redirected lysis of CD19+ cells.
Indications & Uses
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE BLINCYTO is a bispecific CD19-directed CD3 T-cell engager indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients one month and older with: CD19-positive B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in first or second complete remission with minimal residual disease (MRD) greater than or equal to 0.1%. ( 1.1 ) Relapsed or refractory CD19-positive B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). ( 1.2 ) CD19-positive Philadelphia chromosome-negative B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in the consolidation phase of multiphase chemotherapy. ( 1.3 ) 1.1 MRD-positive B-cell Precursor ALL BLINCYTO is indicated for the treatment of CD19-positive B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in first or second complete remission with minimal residual disease (MRD) greater than or equal to 0.1% in adult and pediatric patients one month and older. 1.2 Relapsed or Refractory B-cell Precursor ALL BLINCYTO is indicated for the treatment of relapsed or refractory CD19-positive B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in adult and pediatric patients one month and older. 1.3 B-cell Precursor ALL in the Consolidation Phase BLINCYTO is indicated for the treatment of CD19-positive Philadelphia chromosome-negative B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in the consolidation phase of multiphase chemotherapy in adult and pediatric patients one month and older.
Dosage & Administration
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION For the treatment of MRD-positive B-cell Precursor ALL - See Full Prescribing Information for recommended dose by patient weight and schedule. ( 2.1 ) - Hospitalization is recommended for the first 3 days of the first cycle and the first 2 days of the second cycle. ( 2.1 ) - Premedicate with prednisone or equivalent dexamethasone. ( 2.1 ) For the treatment of Relapsed or Refractory B-cell Precursor ALL - See Full Prescribing Information for recommended dose by patient weight and schedule. ( 2.2 ) - Hospitalization is recommended for the first 9 days of the first cycle and the first 2 days of the second cycle. ( 2.2 ) - Premedicate with dexamethasone. ( 2.2 ) For the treatment of B-cell Precursor ALL in the Consolidation Phase - See Full Prescribing Information for recommended dose by patient weight and schedule. ( 2.3 ) - Hospitalization is recommended for the first 3 days of the first cycle and the first 2 days of the second cycle. ( 2.3 ) - Premedicate with dexamethasone. ( 2.3 ) Refer to Full Prescribing Information for important preparation and administration information. ( 2.5 ) Administer as a continuous intravenous infusion at a constant flow rate using an infusion pump. - See Instructions for Use for infusion over 24 hours or 48 hours. - See Instructions for Use for infusion over 72 hours, 96 hours, or 7 days using Bacteriostatic 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection (containing 0.9% benzyl alcohol). This option is not recommended for patients weighing less than 5.4 kg. 2.1 Treatment of MRD-positive B-cell Precursor ALL A treatment course consists of 1 cycle of BLINCYTO for induction followed by up to 3 additional cycles for consolidation. A single cycle of treatment of BLINCYTO induction or consolidation consists of 28 days of continuous intravenous infusion followed by a 14-day treatment-free interval (total 42 days). See Table 1 for the recommended dose by patient weight and schedule. Patients weighing 45 kg or more receive a fixed-dose. For patients weighing less than 45 kg, the dose is calculated using the patient's body surface area (BSA). Table 1. Recommended BLINCYTO Dose and Schedule for the Treatment of MRD-positive B-cell Precursor ALL Cycle Patients Weighing 45 kg or More (Fixed-dose) Patients Weighing Less Than 45 kg (BSA-based dose) Induction Cycle 1 Days 1-28 28 mcg/day 15 mcg/m 2 /day (not to exceed 28 mcg/day) Days 29-42 14-day treatment-free interval 14-day treatment-free interval Consolidation Cycles 2-4 Days 1-28 28 mcg/day 15 mcg/m 2 /day (not to exceed 28 mcg/day) Days 29-42 14-day treatment-free interval 14-day treatment-free interval Hospitalization is recommended for the first 3 days of the first cycle and the first 2 days of the second cycle. For all subsequent cycle starts and re-initiations (e.g., if treatment is interrupted for 4 or more hours), supervision by a healthcare professional or hospitalization is recommended. Intrathecal chemotherapy prophylaxis is recommended before and during BLINCYTO therapy to prevent central nervous system ALL relapse. Premedicate with prednisone or equivalent for MRD-positive B-cell Precursor ALL: For adult patients, premedicate with prednisone 100 mg intravenously or equivalent (e.g., dexamethasone 16 mg) 1 hour prior to the first dose of BLINCYTO in each cycle. For pediatric patients, premedicate with 5 mg/m 2 of dexamethasone intravenously or orally, to a maximum dose of 20 mg, prior to the first dose of BLINCYTO in the first cycle and when restarting an infusion after an interruption of 4 or more hours in the first cycle. For administration of BLINCYTO: See Instructions for Use for infusion over 24 hours or 48 hours. See Instructions for Use for infusion over 72 hours, 96 hours, or 7 days using Bacteriostatic 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection (containing 0.9% benzyl alcohol). The administration of BLINCYTO as a 72-hour, 96-hour, and 7-day infusion is not recommended for patients weighing less than 5.4 kg. 2.2 Treatment of Relapsed or Refractory B-cell Precursor ALL A treatment course consists of up to 2 cycles of BLINCYTO for induction followed by 3 additional cycles for consolidation and up to 4 additional cycles of continued therapy. A single cycle of treatment of BLINCYTO induction or consolidation consists of 28 days of continuous intravenous infusion followed by a 14-day treatment-free interval (total 42 days). A single cycle of treatment of BLINCYTO continued therapy consists of 28 days of continuous intravenous infusion followed by a 56-day treatment-free interval (total 84 days). See Table 2 for the recommended dose by patient weight and schedule. Patients weighing 45 kg or more receive a fixed-dose and for patients weighing less than 45 kg, the dose is calculated using the patient's BSA. Table 2. Recommended BLINCYTO Dose and Schedule for the Treatment of Relapsed or Refractory B-cell Precursor ALL Cycle Patients Weighing 45 kg or More (Fixed-dose) Patients Weighing Less Than 45 kg (BSA-based dose) Inductio
Side Effects (Adverse Reactions)
6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling: Cytokine Release Syndrome [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Neurological Toxicities, including Immune Effector Cell-Associated Neurotoxicity Syndrome [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Infections [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] Tumor Lysis Syndrome [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] Neutropenia and Febrile Neutropenia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] Effects on Ability to Drive and Use Machines [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) ] Elevated Liver Enzymes [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ] Pancreatitis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8) ] Leukoencephalopathy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9) ] The most common adverse reactions (≥ 20%) are pyrexia, infusion-related reactions, headache, infection, musculoskeletal pain, neutropenia, nausea, anemia, thrombocytopenia, and diarrhea. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Amgen Inc. at 1-800-77-AMGEN (1-800-772-6436) or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. The safety of BLINCYTO in adult and pediatric patients one month and older with MRD-positive B-cell precursor ALL (n = 137), relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor ALL (n = 267), and Philadelphia chromosome-negative B-cell precursor ALL in consolidation (n = 165) was evaluated in clinical studies. The most common adverse reactions (≥ 20%) to BLINCYTO in this pooled population were pyrexia, infusion-related reactions, headache, infection, musculoskeletal pain, neutropenia, nausea, anemia, thrombocytopenia, and diarrhea. MRD-positive B-cell Precursor ALL The safety of BLINCYTO in patients with MRD-positive B-cell precursor ALL was evaluated in two single-arm clinical studies in which 137 adult patients were treated with BLINCYTO. The median age of the study population was 45 years (range: 18 to 77 years). The most common adverse reactions (≥ 20%) were pyrexia, infusion-related reactions, headache, infections (pathogen unspecified), tremor, and chills. Serious adverse reactions were reported in 61% of patients. The most common serious adverse reactions (≥ 2%) included pyrexia, tremor, encephalopathy, aphasia, lymphopenia, neutropenia, overdose, device related infection, seizure, and staphylococcal infection. Adverse reactions of Grade 3 or higher were reported in 64% of patients. Discontinuation of therapy due to adverse reactions occurred in 17% of patients; neurologic events were the most frequently reported reasons for discontinuation. There were 2 fatal adverse reactions that occurred within 30 days of the end of BLINCYTO treatment (atypical pneumonia and subdural hemorrhage). Table 6 summarizes the adverse reactions occurring at a ≥ 10% incidence for any grade or ≥ 5% incidence for Grade 3 or higher. Table 6. Adverse Reactions Occurring at ≥ 10% Incidence for Any Grade or ≥ 5% Incidence for Grade 3 or Higher in BLINCYTO-treated Adult Patients with MRD-Positive B-cell Precursor ALL Adverse Reaction BLINCYTO (N = 137) Any Grade Grading based on NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.0. n (%) Grade ≥ 3 n (%) Blood and lymphatic system disorders Neutropenia Neutropenia includes febrile neutropenia, neutropenia, and neutrophil count decreased. 21 (15) 21 (15) Leukopenia Leukopenia includes leukopenia and white blood cell count decreased. 19 (14) 13 (9) Thrombocytopenia Thrombocytopenia includes platelet count decreased and thrombocytopenia. 14 (10) 8 (6) Cardiac disorders Arrhythmia Arrhythmia includes bradycardia, sinus arrhythmia, sinus bradycardia, sinus tachycardia, tachycardia and ventricular extrasystoles. 17 (12) 3 (2) General disorders and administration site conditions Pyrexia Pyrexia includes body temperature increased and pyrexia. 125 (91) 9 (7) Chills 39 (28) 0 (0) Infections and infestations Infections - pathogen unspecified 53 (39) 11 (8) Injury, poisoning and procedural complications Infusion-related reaction Infusion-related reaction is a composite term that includes the term infusion-related reaction and the following events occurring with the first 48 hours of infusion and the event lasted ≤ 2 days: cytokine release syndrome, eye swelling, hypertension, hypotension, myalgia, periorbital edema, pruritus generalized, pyrexia, and rash. 105 (77) 7 (5) Investigations Decreased immunoglobulins Decreased immunoglobulins includes blood immunoglobulin A decreased, blood immunoglobulin G decreased, blood immunoglobulin M decreased, hypogammaglobulinemia, hypoglobulinemia, and immunoglobulins decreased. 25 (18) 7 (5) Weight increased 14 (10) 1 (< 1) Hypertransaminasemia Hypertransaminasemia includes alanine aminotransferas
Drug Interactions
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS No formal drug interaction studies have been conducted with BLINCYTO. Initiation of BLINCYTO treatment causes transient release of cytokines that may suppress CYP450 enzymes. The highest drug-drug interaction risk is during the first 9 days of the first cycle and the first 2 days of the second cycle in patients who are receiving concomitant CYP450 substrates, particularly those with a narrow therapeutic index. In these patients, monitor for toxicity (e.g., warfarin) or drug concentrations (e.g., cyclosporine). Adjust the dose of the concomitant drug as needed [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.2 , 12.3) ] .
Contraindications
4 CONTRAINDICATIONS BLINCYTO is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to blinatumomab or to any component of the product formulation. Known hypersensitivity to blinatumomab or to any component of the product formulation. ( 4 )
Verify with Primary Sources
Always verify clinical information with authoritative sources.
Medical Disclaimer: Information on this page is sourced from FDA-approved labeling data and is for educational reference only. It does not constitute medical advice. This information does not establish a provider-patient relationship. Always verify with current prescribing information and consult a licensed healthcare professional before any clinical decision. Read full disclaimer.
Data sourced from RxNorm (NLM/NIH), FDA Orange Book, OpenFDA, DailyMed. Last updated: 2026-03-02.