Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel) is a brand-name drug that’s prescribed for certain types of cancer in adults and some children. Kymriah comes as an intravenous infusion given by a healthcare professional. It’s typically given as a single dose.
Kymriah is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat certain types of cancer that have come back or haven’t responded to previous treatments. It’s specifically indicated for:
- B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children and young adults 18 to 25 years old
- certain types of B-cell lymphoma in adults, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), high grade (fast-growing) B-cell lymphoma, and DLBCL from follicular lymphoma
- follicular lymphoma in adults
Kymriah is a biologic and belongs to a drug class called chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy. Kymriah is not available in a biosimilar version.
Keep reading for specific information about the dosage of Kymriah, including its strength and how the medication is given. For a comprehensive look at Kymriah, see this article.
Note: This article describes typical dosages for Kymriah provided by the drug’s manufacturer. However, your doctor will prescribe the Kymriah dosage that’s right for you.
Read below for details about Kymriah’s dosages for its approved uses.
Kymriah form
Kymriah comes as a suspension that’s given as an intravenous (IV) infusion. It’s always given by a healthcare professional and must be given in a Risk and Mitigation Strategies (REMS)-certified healthcare facility.
Kymriah strength
Kymriah is made using T cells that are collected from your blood. These T cells will be collected before your infusion and sent to a lab to be modified. They will be used to prepare your dose of Kymriah.
Typical dosages
The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.
Dosage for ALL
For B-cell precursor ALL, you will receive a single infusion of Kymriah.
Your doctor will calculate the dose of Kymriah you need based on your body weight in kilograms (kg). For reference, 1 kg equals about 2.2 pounds. Talk with your doctor if you have questions about what your specific dose will be.
Dosage for B-cell lymphoma
For B-cell lymphoma, you will receive a single infusion of Kymriah.
Your doctor will calculate the dose of Kymriah you need based on your body weight in kilograms. Talk with your doctor if you have questions about what your specific dose will be.
Dosage for follicular lymphoma
For follicular lymphoma, you will receive a single infusion of Kymriah.
Your doctor will calculate the dose of Kymriah you need based on your body weight in kilograms. Talk with your doctor if you have questions about what your specific dose will be.
Children’s dosage
Kymriah is approved to treat B-cell precursor ALL in children and young adults up to 25 years of age.
Your child’s doctor will calculate the dose of Kymriah based on your child’s body weight in kilograms. Talk with your child’s doctor if you have questions about what their specific dosage will be.
Long-term treatment
Kymriah is used for short-term treatment. It is given as a one-time infusion.
The Kymriah dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:
- your body weight
- the type and severity of ALL or lymphoma you’re using Kymriah to treat
As part of your treatment, you must have your T cells collected before your Kymriah infusion. You’ll go to a cell collection center and have a procedure called leukapheresis. During leukapheresis, your blood will be passed through a machine that separates and collects the T cells and then returns the rest to your body. This typically takes 3 to 6 hours.
After your leukapheresis appointment, the collected cells will be sent to the manufacturer, who will modify them and make your customized dose of Kymriah. The dose will then be mailed to the facility where you’ll receive the infusion.
You may have pretreatment with low dose chemotherapy before your Kymriah infusion. This lowers the number of white blood cells and helps prepare your body for the infusion. Doing this makes the Kymriah infusion more effective.
Your doctor or another healthcare professional will give you the IV infusion of Kymriah. The infusion must be given at a REMS-certified healthcare facility. This is to make sure that it is given safely and by a healthcare professional who has been specially trained. The infusion typically takes less than 1 hour.
Your doctor will likely give you medications, including acetaminophen (Tylenol) and an antihistamine such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), 30 to 60 minutes before your infusion. This is to help lower the risk of infusion reactions, which are side effects that can occur when you receive medication as an IV infusion.
After your infusion, your doctor will monitor you for any side effects. You’ll need to stay close to the facility (within a 2-hour driving distance) for 4 weeks after your infusion so your doctor can monitor you for serious side effects such as CRS.
If you have questions about how Kymriah is given, talk with your doctor.
Below are some frequently asked questions about Kymriah.
Is the dosage of Kymriah similar to the dosage of Yescarta?
Yes, the forms and how often each drug is given are similar. Kymriah and Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel) both use your own cells to personalize your dose of the drug. They are both given as a one-time intravenous (IV) infusion.
To learn more about how these drugs compare, talk with your doctor.
How long does it take for Kymriah to start working?
Kymriah starts to work after your infusion. Because of how the drug works, you likely won’t feel the drug working in your body. The time until you see a response may range from 1 to 6 months, depending on what type of cancer is being treated. Your doctor will monitor you to check whether the drug is working to treat your condition.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about what to expect with Kymriah treatment.
The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug’s manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Kymriah for you, they will prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. If you have questions about the dosage of Kymriah that’s best for you, talk with your doctor.
Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Kymriah. These additional articles might be helpful:
- More about Kymriah: For information about other aspects of Kymriah, refer to this article.
- Side effects: To learn about side effects of Kymriah, see the Kymriah prescribing information.
- Details about your condition: For details about different types of cancer, see our cancer hub.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.