Quick Facts About: Ramucirumab

Cyramza

Yes, in 2014.

Ramucirumab is used in metastatic colorectal cancer treatment.

It is also used to treat locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, advanced gastric cancer, and advanced/unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

*All dosages indicated here are specific to colorectal cancer treatment.

Ramucirumab is administered intravenously.

Dosage is dependent on drug combination in the treatment regimen and is based on the patient’s weight (milligram per kilogram, mg/kg).

Ramucirumab may be used in combination with FOLFIRI (folinic acid + fluorouracil + irinotecan) in patients with disease progression on or after prior treatment with bevacizumab, oxaliplatin and a fluoropyrimidine.

Prior to FOLFIRI administration, ramucirumab is administered in 8 mg/kg doses every 2 weeks via infusion over 1 hour. Ramucirumab may be used until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity levels are reached.

Infusion rate reduction, dosing interruption or discontinuation may be required according to individual safety or tolerability.

Special precautions are required for patients:

• With risk factors for aneurysms and/or artery dissections and bleeding
• Undergoing elective surgery
• With impaired liver function, especially liver cirrhosis
• Who are elderly

Common side effects of ramucirumab may include:

• Sores or white patches in or around your mouth, red or swollen gums, trouble swallowing or talking, dry mouth, bad breath, altered sense of taste
• Feeling weak or tired
• Diarrhea, loss of appetite
• Nosebleed
• Low white blood cell count
• High blood pressure

Ramucirumab may also cause severe side effects:

• Severe stomach pain, bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds — signs of internal stomach bleeding
• Wounds that do not heal
• Headache, confusion, change in mental status, vision loss, seizure (convulsions)
• Severe or persistent nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Rapid weight gain, especially in your face and midsection
• Low white blood cell counts
• Signs of kidney problems
• Symptoms of a blood clot — sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body), sudden severe headache, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance
• Heart attack symptoms

Ramucirumab is a monoclonal antibody used in immunotherapy.

Ramucirumab is a recombinant IgG₁ monoclonal antibody that specifically binds to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor 2. It blocks the binding of VEGF-A, VEGF-C and VEGF-D, thereby inhibiting ligand-stimulated VEGF receptor 2 activation and its downstream signaling components. This action causes the inhibition of ligand-induced proliferation and migration of human endothelial cells, resulting in reduced tumor vascularity and growth.