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The product code(s) for this leaflet is: PLGB 00031/0856.
Gazyvaro 1,000 mg concentrate for solution for infusion
Package leaflet: Information for the patient
Gazyvaro 1,000 mg concentrate for solution for infusion
obinutuzumab
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine because it contains important information for you.
Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or nurse.
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
What is in this leaflet
1. What Gazyvaro is and what it is used for 2. What you need to know before you are given Gazyvaro 3. How Gazyvaro is given 4. Possible side effects 5. How to store Gazyvaro 6. Content of the pack and other information
1. What Gazyvaro is and what it is used for
What Gazyvaro is
Gazyvaro contains the active substance obinutuzumab, which belongs to a group of medicines called “monoclonal antibodies”. Antibodies work by attaching themselves to specific targets in your body.
What Gazyvaro is used for
Gazyvaro can be used in adults to treat two different types of cancer
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (also called “CLL”)
Gazyvaro is used in patients who have not had any treatment for CLL before and who have other illnesses which make it unlikely that they would be able to tolerate a full dose of a different medicine used to treat CLL called fludarabine.
Gazyvaro is used together with another medicine for cancer called chlorambucil.
Follicular lymphoma (also called “FL”)
Gazyvaro is used in patients who have not had any treatment for FL
Gazyvaro is used in patients who have had at least one treatment with a medicine called rituximab before and whose FL has come back or got worse during or after this treatment.
At the start of treatment for FL, Gazyvaro is used together with other medicines for cancer.
Gazyvaro can then be used on its own for up to 2 years as a “maintenance treatment”.
How Gazyvaro works
CLL and FL are types of cancer that affect white blood cells called “B-lymphocytes”. The affected “B-lymphocytes” multiply too quickly and live too long. Gazyvaro binds to targets on the surface of the affected “B-lymphocyte” cells and causes them to die.
When Gazyvaro is given to patients with CLL or FL together with other medicines for cancer - this slows down the time it takes for their disease to get worse.
2. What you need to know before you are given Gazyvaro
You must not be given Gazyvaro if:
you are allergic to obinutuzumab or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
If you are not sure talk to your doctor or nurse before being given Gazyvaro.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or nurse before you are given Gazyvaro if:
you have an infection, or have had an infection in the past which lasted a long time or keeps coming back
you have ever taken, or been given, medicines which affect your immune system (such as chemotherapy or immunosuppressants)
you are taking medicines for high blood pressure or medicines used to thin your blood – your doctor might need to alter how you take these
you have ever had heart problems
you have ever had brain problems (such as memory problems, difficulty moving or feeling sensations in your body, eyesight problems)
you have ever had breathing problems or lung problems
you have ever had “hepatitis B” - a type of liver disease
you are due to have a vaccine or you know you may need to have one in the near future.
If any of the above apply to you (or you are not sure), talk to your doctor or nurse before you are given Gazyvaro.
Pay attention to the following side effects
Gazyvaro can cause some serious side effects that you need to tell your doctor or nurse about straight away. These include:
Infusion related reactions
Tell your doctor or nurse straight away if you get any of the infusion related reactions listed at the start of section 4. Infusion related reactions can happen during the infusion or up to 24 hours after the infusion.
If you get an infusion related reaction, you may require additional treatment, or the infusion may need to be slowed down or stopped. When these symptoms go away, or improve, the infusion can be continued. These reactions are more likely to happen with the first infusion. Your doctor may decide to stop treatment with Gazyvaro if you have a severe infusion related reaction.
Before each infusion of Gazyvaro, you will be given medicines which help to reduce possible infusion related reactions or “tumour lysis syndrome”. Tumour lysis syndrome is a potentially life-threatening complication, caused by chemical changes in the blood due to the breakdown of dying cancer cells (see section 3).
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (also called “PML”)
PML is a very rare and life-threatening brain infection that has been reported in very few patients having treatment with Gazyvaro.
Tell your doctor or nurse straight away if you have memory loss, trouble speaking, difficulty walking or problems with your eyesight.
If you had any of these symptoms before treatment with Gazyvaro, tell your doctor straight away if you notice any changes in them. You may need medical treatment.
Infections
Tell your doctor or nurse straight away if you get any signs of infection after your Gazyvaro treatment (see "Infections" in section 4).
Children and adolescents
Do not give Gazyvaro to children or young people under 18 years of age. This is because there is no information about its use in these age groups.
Other medicines and Gazyvaro
Tell your doctor or nurse if you are taking, have recently taken or might start taking any other medicines. This includes medicines obtained without a prescription and herbal medicines.
Pregnancy
Tell your doctor or nurse if you are pregnant, think you might be pregnant or are planning to have a baby. They will help you weigh up the benefit of continuing Gazyvaro against the risk to your baby.
If you become pregnant during treatment with Gazyvaro, tell your doctor or nurse as soon as possible. This is because treatment with Gazyvaro may affect yours or the baby’s health.
Breast-feeding
Do not breast-feed during treatment with Gazyvaro or for 18 months after stopping treatment with Gazyvaro. This is because small amounts of the medicine may pass into your breast milk.
Contraception
Use an effective method of contraception while being treated with Gazyvaro.
Continue to use effective contraception for 18 months after stopping treatment with Gazyvaro.
Driving and using machines
Gazyvaro is not likely to affect your ability to drive, cycle or use any tools or machines. However, if you get an infusion related reaction, (see section 4), do not drive, cycle or use any tools or machines until the reaction stops.
3. How Gazyvaro is given
How Gazyvaro is given
Gazyvaro is given under the supervision of a doctor experienced in such treatment. It is given into a vein as a drip (intravenous infusion) over several hours.
The Gazyvaro treatment
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
You will be given 6 treatment cycles of Gazyvaro in combination with another medicine for cancer called chlorambucil. Each cycle lasts 28 days.
On Day 1 of your first cycle, you will be given part of your first Gazyvaro dose of 100 milligrams (mg) very slowly. Your doctor/nurse will monitor you carefully for infusion related reactions.
If you do not have an infusion related reaction following the small part of your first dose, you may be given the rest of your first dose (900 mg) on the same day.
If you do have an infusion related reaction following the small part of your first dose, you will be given the rest of your first dose on Day 2.
A typical schedule is shown below.
Cycle 1 - this will include three doses of Gazyvaro in the 28 days:
Day 1 – part of your first dose (100 mg)
Day 2 or Day 1 (continued) – remainder of first dose 900 mg
Day 8 – full dose (1,000 mg)
Day 15 – full dose (1,000 mg)
Cycles 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 this will be just one dose of Gazyvaro in the 28 days:
Day 1 – full dose (1,000 mg).
Follicular lymphoma
You will be given 6 or 8 treatment cycles of Gazyvaro in combination with other medicines for cancer - each cycle lasts 28 or 21 days depending on which other cancer medicines are given together with Gazyvaro.
This induction phase will be followed by a “maintenance phase” - during this time you will be given Gazyvaro every 2 months for up to 2 years as long as your disease does not progress. Based on your disease status after the initial treatment cycles your doctor will decide whether you will receive treatment in the maintenance phase.
A typical schedule is shown below.
Induction phase
Cycle 1 - this will include three doses of Gazyvaro in the 28 or 21 days depending on which other cancer medicines are given together with Gazyvaro:
Day 1 - full dose (1,000 mg)
Day 8 - full dose (1,000 mg)
Day 15 - full dose (1,000 mg).
Cycles 2-6 or 2-8 - this will be just one dose of Gazyvaro in the 28 or 21 days depending on which other cancer medicines are given together with Gazyvaro:
Day 1 - full dose (1,000 mg).
Maintenance phase
Full dose (1,000 mg) once every 2 months for up to 2 years as long as your disease does not progress.
Medicines given before each infusion
Before each infusion of Gazyvaro, you will be given medicines to lessen the chance of getting infusion related reactions or tumour lysis syndrome. These may include:
fluids
medicines to reduce a fever
medicines to reduce pain (analgesics)
medicines to reduce inflammation (corticosteroids)
medicines to reduce an allergic reaction (anti-histamines)
medicine to prevent tumour lysis syndrome (such as allopurinol).
If you miss a Gazyvaro treatment
If you miss your appointment, make another one as soon as possible. This is because for this medicine to be as effective as possible, it is important to follow the dosing schedule.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or nurse.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. The following side effects have been reported with this medicine:
Serious side effects
Infusion related reactions
Tell your doctor or nurse straight away if you get any of the following symptoms during your infusion or up to 24 hours after having your infusion:
Most frequently reported:
nausea
fatigue
dizziness
headache
diarrhoea
fever, flushing or chills
vomiting
shortness of breath
low or high blood pressure
heart beating very fast
chest discomfort
Less frequently reported:
irregular heartbeat
swelling of the throat or airway
wheezing, difficulty breathing, tight chest or throat irritation
If you get any of the above, tell your doctor or nurse straight away.
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy
PML is a very rare and life-threatening brain infection that has been reported with Gazyvaro.
Tell your doctor or nurse straight away if you have
memory loss
trouble speaking
difficulty walking
problems with your eyesight
If you had any of these symptoms before treatment with Gazyvaro, tell your doctor straight away if you notice any changes in them. You may need medical treatment.
Infections
You may be more likely to get an infection during and after treatment with Gazyvaro. Often these are colds, but there have been cases of more severe infections. A type of liver disease called “hepatitis B” has also been reported to reoccur in patients who have had hepatitis B in the past.
Tell your doctor or nurse straight away if you get any signs of infection during and after your Gazyvaro treatment. These include:
fever
cough
chest pain
fatigue
painful rash
sore throat
burning pain when passing urine
feeling weak or generally unwell
If you had recurring or chronic infections before the start of Gazyvaro treatment, tell your doctor about it.
Other side effects
Tell your doctor or nurse if you notice any of the following side effects:
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)
fever
lung infection
headache
joint pain, back pain
feeling weak
feeling tired
pain in arms and legs
diarrhoea, constipation
sleeplessness
hair loss, itchiness
urinary tract infection, nose and throat inflammation, shingles
changes in blood tests:
anaemia (low levels of red blood cells)
low levels of all types of white blood cell (combined)
low levels of neutrophils (a type of white blood cell)
low level of platelets (a type of blood cell that helps your blood to clot)
infection of upper airways (infection of nose, pharynx, larynx and sinuses), cough
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
cold sores
depression, anxiety
flu (influenza)
weight increase
runny or blocked nose
eczema
pain in mouth or throat
muscle and bone pain in your chest
skin cancer (squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma)
bone pain
irregular heart beat (atrial fibrillation)
problems with urinating, urinary incontinence
high blood pressure
problems with digestion (e.g. heartburn), haemorrhoids
changes shown in blood tests:
low levels of lymphocytes (a type of white blood cells), fever associated with low levels of neutrophils (a type of white blood cells)
increase in potassium, phosphate or uric acid - which can cause kidney problems (part of tumour lysis syndrome)
decrease in potassium
a hole in the stomach or intestines (gastrointestinal perforation, especially in cases where the cancer affects the gastrointestinal tubes)
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
abnormal coagulation, including a serious illness where clots form all over the body (disseminated intravascular coagulation)
Tell your doctor or nurse if you notice any of the side effects listed above.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly (see details below). By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
United Kingdom
Yellow Card Scheme
Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard
or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store
5. How to store Gazyvaro
Gazyvaro will be stored by the healthcare professionals at the hospital or clinic. The storage details are as follows:
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Store in a refrigerator (2 °C-8 °C). Do not freeze.
Keep the container in the outer carton in order to protect from light.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Your healthcare professional will throw away any medicines that are no longer being used. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Gazyvaro contains
The active substance is obinutuzumab: 1,000 mg/40 mL per vial corresponding to a concentration before dilution of 25 mg/mL.
The other ingredients are histidine, histidine hydrochloride monohydrate, trehalose dihydrate, poloxamer 188 and water for injections.
What Gazyvaro looks like and contents of the pack
Gazyvaro is a concentrate for solution for infusion and is a colourless to slightly brown liquid. Gazyvaro is available in a pack containing 1 glass vial.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
Roche Products Limited 6 Falcon Way Shire Park Welwyn Garden City AL7 1TW United Kingdom
For any information about this medicine, please contact the local representative of the Marketing Authorisation Holder:
United Kingdom
Roche Products Ltd.
Tel: +44 (0) 1707 366000
This leaflet was last revised in November 2022
gb-pl-gazyvaro-clean-230413-1000mg
Roche Products Limited
Address
Hexagon Place, 6 Falcon Way, Shire Park, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL7 1TW