Daily Medication Pearl: Crizanlizumab (Adakveo) for Sickle Cell Disease

Medication Pearl of the Day: Crizanlizumab (Adakveo)

Crizanlizumab is a selectin blocker indicated to reduce the frequency of vasoocclusive crises in adults and pediatric patients 16 years of age and older with sickle cell disease.

Explanations:

• Dosing: Administer 5 mg/kg by intravenous infusion over a period of 30 minutes on week 0, week 2, and every 4 weeks thereafter.
• Dosage forms: Injection: 100 mg/10 mL (10 mg/mL) solution in a single-dose vial.
• Adverse events: Most common adverse reactions (incidence > 10%) are nausea, arthralgia, back pain, abdominal pain, and pyrexia.
• Special population: Pregnancy—may cause fetal harm.
• Mechanism of action: Crizanlizumab is a humanized IgG2 kappa monoclonal antibody that binds to P-selectin and blocks interactions with its ligands, including P-selectin glycoprotein ligand 1 (PSGL-1). Crizanlizumab can also dissociate preformed Pselectin/PSGL-1 complex. Binding P-selectin on the surface of the activated endothelium and platelets blocks interactions between endothelial cells, platelets, red blood cells, and leukocytes.
• Manufacturer: Novartis

Sources:

• adakveo.pdf (novartis.us)
• adakveo - Google Search