What is UDENYCA?
UDENYCA is a prescription medicine used to help reduce the chance of infection due to a low white blood cell count, in people with certain types of cancer (non-myeloid), who receive anti-cancer medicines (chemotherapy) that can cause fever and low blood cell count.
What are biosimilars?
Biosimilars are FDA-approved biologic medications that are as safe and effective as the original biologics (known as the reference product). Biosimilars have no clinically meaningful differences from the reference product. This means that there is no compromise in safety and effectiveness of the biosimilar when compared to the reference product. Biosimilars introduce competition into the marketplace and can lower the cost of treatment.
Why does chemotherapy cause low white blood cell counts?
Chemotherapy works by targeting cancerous cells. It can also affect and lower healthy cell counts, including the white blood cells that fight infections.
Who should not take UDENYCA?
Do not take UDENYCA if you have had a serious allergic reaction to human G-CSFs, such as pegfilgrastim or filgrastim products.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking UDENYCA?
Before you receive UDENYCA, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you have a sickle cell disorder, have kidney problems, are pregnant or plan to become pregnant (it is not known if UDENYCA will harm your unborn baby), are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed (it is not known if UDENYCA passes into your breast milk).
Tell your healthcare provider about all of the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
What are the most common side effects of UDENYCA?
The most common side effects of UDENYCA are pain in the bones, arms, and legs. These are not all the possible side effects of UDENYCA. Talk with your doctor about any other side effects. Be sure to review the Patient Information for more side effect information.
What are the different ways I can take UDENYCA?
UDENYCA provides 3 administration options, so your doctor can prescribe the one that meets your individual needs:
Do I return to my doctor’s office the day after chemotherapy?
UDENYCA offers 3 options for administration. Depending on the administration your doctor prescribes, you may need to return to the office or hospital the day after chemotherapy to receive UDENYCA.
The UDENYCA prefilled syringe is typically administered in your doctor's office by your healthcare team
The UDENYCA autoinjector is typically administered in the comfort of your home, but may also be given by your provider in their office
The UDENYCA on-body injector is set up by your healthcare team the day you receive chemo, and automatically delivers treatment approximately 27 hours later