Tavneos
Tavneos (avacopan) is a complement inhibitor used to treat certain rare autoimmune conditions that cause blood vessel inflammation. It's FDA approved for adults with severe antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis, including granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). Tavneos (avacopan) is taken by mouth as a capsule, usually twice a day with food, and is used along with other treatments like corticosteroids. Common side effects include nausea, headache, and high blood pressure.
What is Tavneos (avacopan)?
What is Tavneos (avacopan) used for?
- Severe antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (GPA or MPA), in adults, used with standard treatment like corticosteroids
How Tavneos (avacopan) works
Tavneos (avacopan) is a complement inhibitor. It blocks a protein which keeps certain immune cells, called neutrophils, from getting activated and moving to areas where they might cause damage. Though it's not exactly known how Tavneos (avacopan) treats ANCA-associated vasculitis, it's thought to reduce inflammation in your blood vessels.
Drug facts
Side effects of Tavneos (avacopan)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Nausea (24%)
- Headache (21%)
- High blood pressure (18%)
- Diarrhea (15%)
- Vomiting (15%)
- Rash (11%)
- Fatigue (10%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Upper stomach pain
- Dizziness
- "Pins and needles" feeling
Tavneos (avacopan) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Liver problems: yellowing of the skin or eyes, pain on the upper right side of the stomach, feeling tired, dark or brown urine, easy bruising or bleeding, loss of appetite
- Serious allergic reaction: shortness of breath, swelling of face or tongue, trouble swallowing, chest pain, dizziness, fainting, stomach pain, vomiting
- Serious infection: fever, cough, tiredness, body aches, chills, headache, painful urination, cold sores, cuts or scrapes that are swollen
The following Tavneos (avacopan) side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions or angioedema—skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, arms, or legs, trouble swallowing or breathing
- Infection—fever, chills, cough, sore throat, wounds that don't heal, pain or trouble when passing urine, general feeling of discomfort or being unwell
- Liver injury—right upper belly pain, loss of appetite, nausea, light-colored stool, dark yellow or brown urine, yellowing skin or eyes, unusual weakness or fatigue
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
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Pros and cons of Tavneos (avacopan)
Pros
- Available as an oral capsule
- Potential to help reduce steroid use
- More people stayed in remission at 1 year compared to standard treatment alone
Cons
- Commonly causes nausea, headache, and diarrhea
- Must be used along with standard treatment, not by itself
- Need to take 3 capsules twice per day
Pharmacist tips for Tavneos (avacopan)
- Take Tavneos (avacopan) twice a day with food. Eating helps your body absorb more of the medication, which can help it work better.
- Don't open, crush, or chew the Tavneos (avacopan) capsules. If you have trouble swallowing them whole, talk to your prescriber.
- If you miss a dose of Tavneos (avacopan), just wait and take your next dose at the regular time. Never take two doses at once to catch up.
- Make sure to get regular lab tests, including ones that check your liver health, while you're taking Tavneos (avacopan). These tests help your care team make sure the medication continues to be safe.
- Call your care team right away if you notice signs of liver problems while taking Tavneos (avacopan). This includes yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, pain in the upper right part of the stomach, or unusual bruising or bleeding.
- Tavneos (avacopan) can raise your risk of serious infections. Let your prescriber know right away if you have symptoms like fever, cough, tiredness, body aches, headache, or chills.
- Stop taking Tavneos (avacopan) and get medical help right away if you notice swelling in your face, lips, tongue, or throat, or if you have trouble swallowing or breathing. These could be signs of a serious reaction called angioedema.
- Tavneos (avacopan) can interact with a lot of commonly used medications, even over-the-counter medications or herbal supplements. Share a full list of your medications with your care team so they can check for any problems.
- If you're breastfeeding, talk to your prescriber about the risks and benefits of taking Tavneos (avacopan). It's not known if the medication passes into breast milk or if it could affect your breastfed baby.
Common questions about Tavneos (avacopan)
Yes. The FDA approved Tavneos (avacopan) in October 2021 as an add-on to standard treatment for adults with severe ANCA-associated vasculitis.
Though not a traditional immunosuppressant, Tavneos (avacopan) has immunosuppressive effects. It treats ANCA-associated vasculitis by lowering the activity of specific cells in your immune system.
In clinical studies, some people with ANCA-associated vasculitis started to see an improvement within the first 4 weeks when taking it with standard treatment. But it can take several months to see the full benefits. Talk to your prescriber if you have questions about how well this medication might work for you.
Yes, fatigue (or tiredness) is a common side effect of Tavneos (avacopan). In clinical trials, about 10% of people reported feeling more tired than usual while taking it. If you notice this side effect, talk to your prescriber to see what might be causing it and how to manage it.
Tavneos (avacopan) isn't well studied in pregnant people, so it's unclear if it's completely safe during pregnancy. Animal studies showed mixed results when the medication was used during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk to your OB-GYN provider about the possible risks and benefits of taking this medication.
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Risks and warnings for Tavneos (avacopan)
Tavneos (avacopan) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Worsening liver problems and liver failure
- Risk factors: History of liver problems
Tavneos (avacopan) can cause serious liver problems. You'll need regular blood tests to check your liver health before and during treatment to make sure your liver is working as it should. Get medical help right away if you notice yellowing of your skin or eyes, pain in the upper right side of your stomach, unusual tiredness, dark or brown urine, easy bruising or bleeding, or loss of appetite. Your prescriber might stop the medication to help prevent more liver damage.
Severe allergic reactions
Tavneos (avacopan) can cause a serious allergic reaction called angioedema, which can involve swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat. This can make it hard to breathe or swallow and needs emergency medical care. If you notice these symptoms, stop taking the medication and get help right away.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation
- Risk factors: History of hepatitis B
Tavneos (avacopan) can cause hepatitis B virus (HBV) to reactivate, which means the virus becomes active again in someone who had it in the past, even if it seems gone. This can lead to serious or life-threatening liver problems. Your prescriber will screen you for signs of current or past HBV infection before you start treatment.
If you do have HBV, you’ll be closely monitored during treatment and for 6 months after stopping Tavneos (avacopan). Tell your prescriber right away if you notice yellowing of your skin or eyes, dark urine, tiredness, or pain in the upper right side of your stomach. If HBV reactivation happens, you’ll need to stop Tavneos (avacopan) and begin treatment to protect your liver.
Serious infections
- Risk factors: Active, chronic, or recurrent infection | Having other conditions that raise your risk of infection | Living in or traveling to places with high rates of TB or fungal infections | Taking medications that weaken your immune system
Some people taking Tavneos (avacopan) experienced severe, life-threatening infections. The most common serious infections in clinical studies were pneumonia and urinary tract infections (UTIs). If you get a fever or other signs of infection — like cough, tiredness, body aches, chills, headache, painful urination, or cold sores — contact your prescriber. Depending on how serious the infection is, you might need to stop taking the medication until the infection is under control.
Tavneos (avacopan) dosage
Capsule| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10mg | 180 capsules | $18,312.64 | $101.74 |
Typical dosage for Tavneos (avacopan)
The typical dose is 30 mg (three 10 mg capsules) by mouth twice a day with food.
Your dose might be lower if you take medications that interact with Tavneos (avacopan).
How much does Tavneos (avacopan) cost?
$18,312.64
