Tecentriq Hybreza
Tecentriq Hybreza (atezolizumab / hyaluronidase) is an immunotherapy cancer medication that’s given as an injection under the skin. It’s FDA approved for some adults with lung cancer, liver cancer, or melanoma. It can also help treat people 12 years and older with alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS). A nurse will give the injection into the thigh every 3 weeks at a clinic. Side effects include tiredness, muscle or bone pain, and cough. Depending on your cancer type and treatment plan, you might take Tecentriq Hybreza on its own or with other chemotherapy.
What is Tecentriq Hybreza?
What is Tecentriq Hybreza used for?
Certain types of:
- Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in adults
- Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) in adults
- Liver cancer in adults
- Melanoma in adults
- Alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) in people 12 years and older weighing 88 lbs or more
How Tecentriq Hybreza works
Tecentriq Hybreza has two active ingredients in it: atezolizumab and hyaluronidase.
Atezolizumab is an immunotherapy medication. In particular, it’s called a programmed death-ligand 1 inhibitor, or PD-L1 inhibitor. It’s also called a checkpoint inhibitor.
Atezolizumab works by blocking the programmed death-1 (PD-1) pathway. Some cancer cells use the PD-1 pathway to hide from the immune system. When this happens, the immune system can’t find and destroy the cancer cells as well. And so, the cancer can grow.
By blocking the PD-1 pathway, atezolizumab helps the immune system find cancer cells and kill them better. This helps stop the cancer from growing.
Hyaluronidase is an enzyme. It breaks down a substance in your skin called hyaluronan. This helps your body absorb atezolizumab better through the skin where it’s injected. This allows Tecentriq Hybreza to be given as an injection under the skin.
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Tecentriq Hybreza |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | PD-L1 inhibitor |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | No lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
Side effects of Tecentriq Hybreza
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
- Low hemoglobin levels (67%)
- Low white blood cells (37%)
- Low sodium levels (46%)
- Higher liver enzyme levels (up to 33%)
- Low calcium levels (22%)
- High potassium levels (21%)
- High calcium levels (20%)
- Tiredness (19%)
- Muscle or bone pain (15%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Low appetite
- Injection site reactions
- Fever
Note: Side effects came from adults with NSCLC who took Tecentriq Hybreza alone. Side effects might be different for people with other cancers, for those also taking chemotherapy, or for children.
Tecentriq Hybreza serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Serious immune-related side effects: rash, blisters, skin peeling, trouble breathing, coughing, chest pain, severe diarrhea, severe stomach pain, mucus or blood in stool, not urinating as much
- Serious reaction during the injection: chills, shaking, rash, itching, flushing, dizziness, fever, throat tightness, trouble breathing, wheezing, back or neck pain, swelling of the face
The following Tecentriq Hybreza side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Dry cough, shortness of breath or trouble breathing
- Eye pain, redness, irritation, or discharge with blurry or decreased vision
- Heart muscle inflammation—unusual weakness or fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, fast or irregular heartbeat, dizziness, swelling of the ankles, feet, or hands
- Hormone gland problems—headache, sensitivity to light, unusual weakness or fatigue, dizziness, fast or irregular heartbeat, increased sensitivity to cold or heat, excessive sweating, constipation, hair loss, increased thirst or amount of urine, tremors or shaking, irritability
- Injection reactions—chest pain, shortness of breath or trouble breathing, feeling faint or lightheaded
- Kidney injury (glomerulonephritis)—decrease in the amount of urine, red or dark brown urine, foamy or bubbly urine, swelling of the ankles, hands, or feet
- 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
- Pain, tingling, or numbness in the hands or feet, muscle weakness, change in vision, confusion or trouble speaking, loss of balance or coordination, trouble walking, seizures
- Rash, fever, and swollen lymph nodes
- Redness, blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth
- Sudden or severe stomach pain, bloody diarrhea, fever, nausea, vomiting
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Bone, joint, or muscle pain
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Skin rash
Pros and cons of Tecentriq Hybreza
Pros
- Given as an injection under the skin that takes a few minutes
- Given every 3 weeks
Cons
- Must be given by a healthcare professional
- Risk of reactions like chills or flushing during the injection
Pharmacist tips for Tecentriq Hybreza
- Write down your Tecentriq Hybreza injection appointments on your calendar. You’ll get an injection every 3 weeks. If you miss an appointment, call the clinic as soon as you can to set up a new appointment.
- The Tecentriq Hybreza injection itself usually takes about 7 minutes. Still, plan extra time for your appointment to check in and get comfortable. This also gives your care team time to handle anything unexpected, like reactions during the injection.
- Let your nurse know right away if you feel chills, shaky, itchy, dizzy, or throat tightness during your Tecentriq Hybreza injection. Also tell them right away if you have flushing, a rash, trouble breathing, or a wheeze. These might be signs of a reaction to the injection. Your nurse can help manage these symptoms.
- The spot where you received your Tecentriq Hybreza injection might get swollen, red, or sore. This often happens a few hours after the injection and usually fades within a day or two. To help ease the discomfort, you can hold an ice pack wrapped in a towel over the area for about 10 minutes. Call your care team if the reaction gets worse or doesn’t go away.
- Tell your oncology care team right away if you have any immune-related side effects while taking Tecentriq Hybreza. Watch for coughing, trouble breathing, or a rash. You might need additional treatment to help manage these side effects.
- Check with your oncology care team before taking any over-the-counter (OTC) medications to help with Tecentriq Hybreza side effects. OTC medications might not be enough. This can include dextromethorphan (Delsym) for cough or loperamide (Imodium A-D) for diarrhea. You might need a steroid or other support therapy to help with side effects.
- If you need to take a steroid to help manage side effects, follow your oncologist’s directions. Don’t stop taking the steroid suddenly, especially if you need it for several weeks. Stopping too suddenly can cause body aches and stomach upset. Your oncologist can help you slowly lower your steroid dose so you can stop safely.
- Make sure to get your lab work done whenever your oncologist asks while you’re taking Tecentriq Hybreza. These blood tests can help find side effects you might not easily notice yourself. It can include problems with your liver, kidneys, or thyroid.
- If you can get pregnant, use reliable birth control while taking Tecentriq Hybreza. Keep using birth control for 5 more months after you finish treatment with this medication. Tecentriq Hybreza can harm an unborn baby. Tell your oncologist right away if you become pregnant during treatment.
- Don’t breastfeed while taking Tecentriq Hybreza or for 5 months after your last dose. It’s not known if the medication can pass into breast milk and harm your baby. Talk to your care team or a lactation consultant about other safe feeding options.
Risks and warnings for Tecentriq Hybreza
Tecentriq Hybreza 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.
Immune-related side effects
Immunotherapy medications such as Tecentriq Hybreza can cause immune-related adverse events (irAEs). These side effects happen when your immune system becomes too active. It causes your immune system to start attacking healthy cells, not just cancer cells.
These side effects can happen anywhere in your body and at any time while you're taking Tecentriq Hybreza. They can be mild or very serious.
Some side effects show up on your blood test results. These include liver or kidney problems. That's why it's important to get your blood work done on time, even if you feel fine. This helps your care team look for side effects that you might not notice on your own.
Other side effects can cause symptoms you can feel. Examples include trouble breathing, rash, and diarrhea. Tell your care team right away if you notice these symptoms or anything unusual.
Depending on how severe your symptoms are, you might need to stop Tecentriq Hybreza for a while and take a steroid to help you feel better. For severe side effects, you might need to stop Tecentriq Hybreza completely.
Injection-related reactions
Some people might have a reaction while getting their Tecentriq Hybreza injection. These reactions can sometimes be severe or even life-threatening and include anaphylaxis.
Reactions can include chills, shaking, rash, itching, flushing, dizziness, or fever. Also watch for throat tightness, trouble breathing, wheezing, back or neck pain, or swelling of the face. Tell your nurse right away if any of these happen during your injection.
Depending on how severe the reaction is, your nurse can pause or slow the Tecentriq Hybreza injection. Your oncologist might give you medications like a fever reducer or antihistamine before your next injections to help. If the reaction is severe, you might need to stop Tecentriq Hybreza altogether. Your care team will help treat and manage reactions.
Complications from stem cell transplants
- Risk factors: People who’ve had a stem cell (bone marrow) transplant
Some people who’ve taken immunotherapy medications like Tecentriq Hybreza and have had a stem cell transplant can have serious problems. This can include liver damage called veno-occlusive disease (VOD). It can also lead to graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).
Before starting Tecentriq Hybreza, tell your oncology care team if you’ve had a stem cell transplant before. Also let them know if you have one planned at any time after you're done with Tecentriq Hybreza. Your care team will check on you regularly for any signs of these problems.
Harm to an unborn baby
- Risk factors: Pregnancy
Based on animal studies and the way Tecentriq Hybreza works, this medication might harm an unborn baby when it’s given during pregnancy.
If you can get pregnant, your oncologist might ask you to take a pregnancy test before you start treatment. This double checks you're not pregnant before starting Tecentriq Hybreza.
Then once you start Tecentriq Hybreza, use effective birth control if you're having sex. Keep using birth control for another 5 months after your last dose. Tell your care team right away if you become pregnant during treatment.
Tecentriq Hybreza dosage
Typical dosage for Tecentriq Hybreza
Tecentriq Hybreza is given as an injection by a healthcare professional. It’s injected under the skin into the fatty tissue of the thigh.
Each dose is 1,875 mg/30,000 units (atezolizumab/hyaluronidase). This is given as one 15 mL injection under the skin every 3 weeks.
What are alternatives to Tecentriq Hybreza?
Tecentriq Hybreza images
