Blincyto (blinatumomab) is a prescription drug that’s used to treat certain types of leukemia. The drug is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion by a healthcare professional. Your dosage depends on your condition and other factors.
Blincyto is used in adults and children to treat certain types of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
The active ingredient in Blincyto is blinatumomab. Blincyto belongs to a group of drugs called monoclonal antibodies. It’s a biologic drug made from living cells.
This article describes the dosages of Blincyto, as well as its strength and how it’s given. To learn more about Blincyto, including specifics about its uses, see this in-depth article.
This section describes the usual dosages of Blincyto. Keep reading to learn more.
What is Blincyto’s form?
Blincyto is available as a powder that’s mixed with a liquid solution. It’s given by a healthcare professional as an IV infusion (an injection into your vein over a period of time).
What strength does Blincyto come in?
Blincyto comes in one strength of 35 micrograms (mcg).
What are the usual dosages of Blincyto?
Your doctor will likely start you on a low dosage and adjust it over time to reach the right amount for you. They’ll ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect.
The information below describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. Your doctor will determine the best dosage based on your body weight or body surface area in square meters. In some cases, doctors may adjust your dosage from those shown below.
Dosage for ALL that’s in remission
Blincyto can be prescribed for adults to treat a type of ALL that’s in remission, with minimal remaining disease based on blood tests. For this condition, Blincyto is given in treatment cycles as follows:
- You’ll receive one cycle for induction (the start of treatment) followed by up to three more cycles called consolidation treatment. Consolidation therapy means treatment that’s given after induction to target any cancer cells that remain in the body.
- For each cycle of treatment (induction or consolidation), you’ll receive Blincyto as a continuous IV infusion over 28 days. This is followed by 14 days with no treatment, for a total of 42 days per cycle.
Your dosage will depend on your weight. If you weigh 45 kilograms (kg) (about 99 lb, for reference, 1 kg = 2.2 lb) or more, you will have a fixed dose. If you weigh less than 45 kg, your doctor will calculate your dosage based on your body surface area (BSA) in meters squared (m2). BSA is a unit of measurement that’s based on your height and weight.
The table below describes the cycles and dosages for Blincyto.
| Treatment cycle of Blincyto | Dosage for body weight of 45 kg or more (fixed dose) | Dosage for body weight of less than 45 kg (based on BSA) |
| induction cycle 1 (days 1 to 28) | 28 mcg per day | 15 mcg per m2 per day, up to 28 mcg/day |
| induction cycle 1 (days 29 to 42) | no treatment | no treatment |
| consolidation cycles 2 to 4 (days 1 to 28) | 28 mcg per day | 15 mcg per m2 per day, up to 28 mcg/day |
| consolidation cycles 2 to 4 (days 29 to 42) | no treatment | no treatment |
If you have questions about your dosage or dosing schedule, talk with your doctor.
Dosage for ALL that’s relapsed or refractory
Blincyto can be prescribed for adults to treat a type of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) that’s relapsed (returned) or refractory (didn’t respond to treatment). For this condition, Blincyto is given in treatment cycles, as follows:
- You’ll receive up to two cycles of induction therapy. Induction therapy is the start of treatment.
- Next, you’ll have three cycles of consolidation therapy. Consolidation therapy is a treatment that’s given after induction to target any cancer cells that remain in the body.
- For each cycle of induction or consolidation treatment, you’ll receive Blincyto as a continuous IV infusion over 28 days. This is followed by 14 days with no treatment, for a total of 42 days per cycle.
- Finally, you’ll have up to four more cycles of continued treatment. Continued treatment is a type of maintenance treatment used as long-term therapy with Blicynto. The amount of continued treatment you receive is based on your response to treatment and other factors.
- For each cycle of continued therapy, you’ll receive Blincyto as an IV infusion over 28 days. Then, you won’t receive treatment for 56 days, for a total of 84 days.
Your dosage will depend on your weight. If you weigh 45 (kg) (about 99 lb) or more, you will have a fixed dose. If you weigh less than 45 kg, your doctor will calculate your dosage based on your body surface area (BSA) in meters squared (m2). BSA is a unit of measurement that’s based on your height and weight.
The table below describes Blincyto’s typical dosages for ALL that has returned or didn’t respond to other treatment.
| Treatment cycle of Blincyto | Dosage for body weight of 45 kg or more (fixed dose) | Dosage for body weight of less than 45 kg (based on BSA) |
|---|---|---|
| Induction cycle 1 | ||
| days 1 to 7 | 9 mcg per day | 5 mcg per m2 per day (up to 9 mcg per day) |
| days 8 to 28 | 28 mcg per day | 15 mcg per m2 per day (up to 28 mcg per day) |
| days 29 to 42 | no treatment for 14 days | no treatment for 14 days |
| Induction cycle 2 | ||
| days 1 to 28 | 28 mcg per day | 15 mcg per m2 per day (up to 28 mcg/day) |
| days 29 to 42 | no treatment for 14 days | no treatment for 14 days |
| Consolidation cycles 3 to 5 | ||
| days 1 to 28 | 28 mcg per day | 15 mcg per m2 per day (up to 28 mcg/day) |
| days 29 to 42 | no treatment for 14 days | no treatment for 14 days |
| Continued treatment cycles 6 to 9 | ||
| days 1 to 28 | 28 mcg per day | 15 mcg per m2 per day (up to 28 mcg/day) |
| days 29 to 84 | no treatment for 56 days | no treatment for 56 days |
If you have questions about your dosage or dosing schedule, talk with your doctor.
What’s the dosage of Blincyto for children?
Blincyto is used in children one month and older to treat the types of ALL listed above.
The dosage for children is the same as the dosage for adults. To learn more, see the “What are the usual dosages of Blincyto?” section above. Your child’s doctor will calculate your child’s dosage based on their body weight or body surface area (BSA).
Blincyto comes as a powder that’s mixed into a liquid solution for injection as an IV infusion (an injection into a vein over a period of time). Blincyto is given by a healthcare professional at your doctor’s office, a clinic, or a hospital.
Blincyto is given in cycles, which vary based on your condition and where you are in your treatment plan. For details on these cycles, see the section above called “What is Blincyto’s dosage?”.
Your doctor will likely recommend that you stay in the hospital at the following times:
- during the first 9 days of the first Blincyto treatment cycle
- during the first 2 days of the second cycle
You will also be monitored closely by a healthcare professional, or hospitalized, at the following times:
- at the start of all remaining cycles
- if treatment is paused for 4 or more hours
The purpose of this monitoring is to watch for signs of serious side effects of Blincyto.
Before you receive Blincyto, your doctor will likely give you a corticosteroid medication. You may receive either prednisone (Rayos) or dexamethasone (Hemady) based on your treatment plan and condition. These medications can help reduce your risk of side effects from Blincyto.
You may receive these medications as an IV injection or as pills that you swallow. Your doctor will provide more information about premedication before you receive your Blincyto infusion.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about your Blincyto infusion or dosage.
Is Blincyto used long term?
How long you’ll receive Blincyto depends on your condition and how you respond to the treatment. Your doctor will discuss your treatment schedule and how long you’ll receive Blincyto.
Disclaimer: Healthline 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.