Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel) is a brand-name drug that’s prescribed for certain types of B-cell lymphoma in adults. Yescarta comes as an IV infusion that’s given by a healthcare professional.

Yescarta is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat certain types of large B-cell lymphoma (a form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma). It’s approved to treat the following cancers after relapse or unsuccessful treatment with other therapies:

Your doctor may prescribe Yescarta after trying at least two other systemic treatments for your B-cell lymphoma. (Systemic treatments are therapies that affect your entire body.)

Yescarta is also approved to treat follicular lymphoma after relapse or unsuccessful treatment with other therapies.

Yescarta is a biologic and a type of gene therapy called chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T-cell) therapy. Yescarta is not available in a biosimilar version.

Keep reading for specific information about the dosage of Yescarta, including its strength and how to use the medication. For a comprehensive look at Yescarta, see this article.

Note: This article describes typical dosages for Yescarta provided by the drug’s manufacturer. However, your doctor will prescribe the Yescarta dosage that’s right for you.

Read below for recommended dosage of Yescarta and other details about the drug.

Yescarta form

Yescarta comes as a liquid suspension that’s given as an intravenous (IV) infusion. It’s always given by a healthcare professional.

Yescarta strength

Yescarta comes in an infusion bag that has about 68 milliliters of suspension. The suspension contains a modified version of your own T cells (a type of white blood cell). These cells are collected and modified to respond more effectively to cancer cells. Because each bag of Yescarta is uniquely formulated for the person receiving it, it doesn’t come in a specific strength.

Typical dosages

The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended in adults. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Dosage for large B-cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma

Yescarta is given as a one-time infusion to treat large B-cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma. Each Yescarta infusion is specifically formulated for the person receiving it. For this reason, there is no typical set dose.

Your doctor will determine the correct dose for you based on your body weight in kilograms. For more information about your specific dose, talk with your doctor.

Long-term treatment

Yescarta is given as a one-time infusion. It’s not meant to be given long term.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about this.

Yescarta is given as an IV infusion. You’ll receive it from your doctor or another healthcare professional at a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy certified facility.

Starting 5 days before your infusion, you’ll receive low doses of chemotherapy. This helps prepare your body for the Yescarta infusion. In most cases, the two chemotherapy drugs you’ll receive are Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide) and fludarabine.

About 1 hour before your Yescarta infusion, your doctor will give you diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and acetaminophen (Tylenol). These will help reduce your risk of side effects from the infusion.

The infusion takes about 30 minutes. However, you’ll need to remain at the infusion facility for at least 7 days. This is so your doctor can monitor you for any side effects from treatment.

If you have questions about what to expect with your Yescarta infusion, talk with your doctor.

The drug’s manufacturer also explains the procedure in a helpful video and step-by-step guidance.

It’s important not to miss your Yescarta infusion. If you miss your appointment, call your doctor’s office as soon as possible to reschedule.

If you need help remembering your appointment, try setting an alarm or downloading a reminder app on your phone.

Below are some frequently asked questions about Yescarta.

Is the dosage of Yescarta similar to the dosage of Kymriah?

Yes, the dosages of Yescarta and Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel) are somewhat similar. While these drugs contain different active ingredients, both contain a modified version of your own T cells. Each infusion of Yescarta and Kymriah is uniquely formulated for the person receiving it. For this reason, they may contain different strengths.

However, both drugs are given as one-time IV infusions for certain types of cancer. Your doctor will prescribe the drug and the dosage that’s right for you.

To learn more about how these drugs compare, talk with your doctor.

How long does it take for Yescarta to start working?

Yescarta starts to work after your infusion. Because of how the drug works, you likely won’t feel the drug working in your body. It may take several weeks for your symptoms to ease. Your doctor will perform tests to make sure the drug is working for you.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about what to expect with Yescarta treatment.

The dosage in this article is the typical dosage provided by the drug’s manufacturer. If you have questions about the dosage of Yescarta that’s best for you, talk with your doctor.

Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Yescarta. These additional articles might be helpful:

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.