What is Breyanzi?
Cancer has no positive aspect, and the treatment methods often impose severe side effects while breaking the bank. Amongst various widespread cancers, diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) seems to become more widespread. According to the available data, DLBCL afflicts up to 18,000 people yearly. As a cancer of the lymphatic system, large B-cell lymphoma is considered the most prevalent and aggressive type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma worldwide. That said, there is hope for a complete cure if it is treated at the right time. DLBCL is treated primarily through a synthesis of chemotherapy and the monoclonal antibody rituximab, known as R-CHOP. However, a relapse or failure in treatment is possible, and that is when Breyanzi can be an advantageous option. Read on to learn more about Breyanzi, its usage, and its side effects.
Breyanzi’s Applications
The initial treatment for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is R-CHOP, which can include radiation therapy or not. Nevertheless, it is possible for the cancer cells to grow again or not keep their pace of growth without responding to the treatment. At this point, two sorts of treatment are available: combination chemotherapy regimens and CAR T-cell therapy. Breyanzi is one of the beneficial therapies that belongs to the CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) T-cell therapy category. It is a brand name for lisocabtagene maraleucel and can treat refractory/relapsed patients by killing the cancer cells via the body’s immune system. Several types of large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) include primary mediastinal large B-cell, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, high-grade B-cell lymphoma, and follicular lymphoma grade 3B. In either of these cases, Breyanzi can work well. That being said, patients with the primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma cannot take Breyanzi as an appropriate medication.
The Necessity of Breyanzi
Lymphoma is a type of cancer that targets the lymphatic system, which is responsible for maintaining fluid levels in body tissues. It consists of a network of lymph vessels and lymph nodes stretched throughout the body. In a nutshell, we owe the removal of fluids leaking out of blood vessels to this complicated system. That is why lymphoma is a severe condition that may go extreme and result in death. It occurs when white blood cells (lymphocytes) begin to go out of control and grow abnormally. This abnormal growth can lead to the formation of tumors throughout the body. That is why it must not be left untreated. The immune system can fight cancer cells through chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy. Through this procedure, the T cells (immune cells) are empowered to face the antigens on the surface of cancer cells. As a CAR T-cell therapy, Breyanzi is a beneficial way to modify the receptors of T cells slanted towards added immunity against the cancer cells.
The Usage of Breyanzi
As mentioned earlier, adults who have not received favorable responses from other treatments or are going through a disease relapse can use Breyanzi as an FDA-approved CAR T-cell therapy. There are other CAR T-cell therapies along with Breyanzi, such as tisagenlecleucel and axicabtagene ciloleucel, under the brand names Kymriah and Yescarta, respectively. Manufactured by Bristol Myers Squibb, Breyanzi is notably improved in terms of complete responses (CR), progression-free survival (PFS), and event-free survival (EFS). Thus, Breyanzi could be a potential option on the table for patients with relapsed or refractory LBCL. Breyanzi is exclusively made for each individual since it is made from a person’s blood cells. The white cells are removed through a process called leukapheresis. Subsequently, a new gene is added to a receptor (T cell protein), so the immune system can recognize the cancer cell antigen. The final fluid outcome is injected into a vein. The injected fluid begins to influence tissues, organs, and cells responsible for standing against threats such as viruses and bacteria. Subsequently, these parts start to primarily focus on fighting the cancer cells, leading to a temporarily weakened immune system.
Prerequisites to Receive Breyanzi
Receiving Breyanzi treatment requires some preparation beforehand. Firstly, since Breyanzi causes a considerable decrease in the body’s overall immunity, any vaccination must be received under a doctor’s supervision. You should take these precautions seriously for about six weeks before getting started on Breyanzi treatment until you get your doctor’s permission later on. Secondly, you must ensure you will not have allergic reactions to the ingredients in Breyanzi. Likewise, infections and inflammatory disorders might provoke further abnormal reactions afterward. Patients are highly recommended to let their doctors know about these conditions or previous experiences of a stroke, memory loss, or seizures. Next, make sure your doctor or pharmacist is aware of various products you may be using, such as nutritional supplements, vitamins, and prescription/nonprescription medications. Though not necessarily, these products may have a drug interaction with Breyanzi, which might cause unwanted consequences. Another case of drug interaction is pregnancy or breastfeeding. The patient is generally required not to be pregnant, which is usually approved via a pregnancy test. Lastly, your doctor should know if you have a liver disease or an infection with hepatitis B virus experience on your record.
Pricing and Necessary Adult Dosage
Since Breyanzi can trigger life-threatening reactions, only certain healthcare facilities that take part in REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy) program can provide you with the treatment. As noted earlier, Breyanzi is a medication made uniquely for each patient. It takes about 30 minutes to inject the final liquid as two infusions as the only dose. Moreover, DLBCL is less likely to occur in childhood; thus, there is no determined dosage of Breyanzi for children. The cost per patient is somewhere between $470,000-$502,000. Nonetheless, a few pharma companies, such as Opal Biopharma (OBP), are putting lots of effort into manufacturing biosimilar versions of Breyanzi; these safe alternatives require remarkably less budget while offering similar functions.
Breyanzi’s Side Effects
There is little information on how safely Breyanzi would work out in children, but adults should expect a series of reactions along with multiple side effects. Therefore, it is vital to play safe for a minimum of four weeks and ensure a clinical center is nearby. Some symptoms include fever, chills, difficulty breathing, dizziness, vomiting, tiredness and confusion, cold hands and feet, loss of appetite and stomach pain, easy bruising and bleeding, difficulty concentrating, decreased consciousness, hives, skin sores, and irregular heartbeat. Each of these side effects can get prolonged or severe. In case one or more of these symptoms show up, you must consult your doctor immediately in order to prevent unwanted consequences.
Life-Threatening Reactions
Besides these side effects, some abnormal and life-threatening reactions, such as central nervous system and cytokine release syndrome (CRS), may also come about. CRS results from abnormally aggressive immune system reactions to immunotherapy medications and can be specifically life-threatening. The symptoms of CRS are almost identical to those of Breyanzi, including overwhelming fatigue, nausea, and fever. Therefore, keeping your doctor aware of your overall condition after taking Breyanzi is a must-do.
Final Thoughts
Breyanzi is the brand name for lisocabtagene maraleucel and is one of several CAR T-cell therapies. It can be a way out for LBCL-stricken patients disappointed by other systematic therapies. Any CAR T-cell therapy can fail for several reasons, like immune dysregulation. Yet, Breyanzi can be of great use if either the initial treatments have failed or a relapse has occurred. That said, it comes along with multiple side effects. Some include nausea and vomiting, chills and fever, dizziness and confusion, seizures, and more. You must immediately inform your healthcare provider if you observe any of these symptoms.
