Asthma/COPD:
Indications for NUCALA:
Add-on maintenance treatment of severe asthma in patients ≥6yrs old, and with an eosinophilic phenotype.
Limitations of Use:
Not for relief of acute bronchospasm or status asthmaticus.
Adults and Children:
<6yrs: not established. Give by SC inj into upper arm, thigh, or abdomen. 6–11yrs (use vials only): 40mg once every 4 weeks. ≥12yrs: 100mg once every 4 weeks.
Warnings/Precautions:
Not for treating acute asthma symptoms or exacerbations. Opportunistic infections (eg, herpes zoster); consider varicella vaccination if appropriate. Treat pre-existing helminth infections prior to initiation; discontinue Nucala if treatment-resistant infection occurs while on therapy until resolves. Avoid abrupt discontinuation of systemic or inhaled corticosteroids; reduce dose gradually upon Nucala initiation. Reduction may be associated with systemic withdrawal symptoms and/or unmask previously suppressed conditions. Elderly. Pregnancy. Nursing mothers.
Pharmacologic Class:
Interleukin-5 antagonist.
Adverse Reactions:
Headache, inj site reactions, back pain, fatigue; infections, hypersensitivity reactions (discontinue if occur); possible antibody formation.
Generic Availability:
NO
How Supplied:
Single-dose vial—1; Single-dose prefilled syringe—1 (w. needle); Single-dose autoinjector—1 (w. needle)
Pricing for NUCALA
Miscellaneous immune disorders:
Indications for NUCALA:
Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) in adults. Treatment of patients with hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) for ≥6 months without an identifiable non-hematologic secondary cause.
Adult:
Give by SC inj into upper arm, thigh, or abdomen. 300mg (as three separate 100mg inj) once every 4 weeks; inject at least 2 inches apart if at the same site.
Children:
EGPA (<18yrs): not established. HES (<12yrs): not established.
Warnings/Precautions:
Not for treating acute asthma symptoms or exacerbations. Opportunistic infections (eg, herpes zoster); consider varicella vaccination if appropriate. Treat pre-existing helminth infections prior to initiation; discontinue Nucala if treatment-resistant infection occurs while on therapy until resolves. Avoid abrupt discontinuation of systemic or inhaled corticosteroids; reduce dose gradually upon Nucala initiation. Reduction may be associated with systemic withdrawal symptoms and/or unmask previously suppressed conditions. Elderly. Pregnancy. Nursing mothers.
Pharmacologic Class:
Interleukin-5 antagonist.
Adverse Reactions:
Headache, inj site reactions, back pain, fatigue; infections, hypersensitivity reactions (discontinue if occur); possible antibody formation.
Generic Availability:
NO
How Supplied:
Single-dose vial—1; Single-dose prefilled syringe—1 (w. needle); Single-dose autoinjector—1 (w. needle)
