Imdelltra (tarlatamab-dlle) is a prescription drug used to treat extensive stage small cell lung cancer in certain situations. Imdelltra is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion by a healthcare professional.

To learn more about Imdelltra’s uses, see the “What is Imdelltra used for?” section.

Imdelltra basics

Imdelltra contains the active ingredient tarlatamab-dlle. It’s a type of immunotherapy drug.

Imdelltra is a biologic medication. A biologic is made from parts of living organisms. Imdelltra is available only as a brand-name drug. It isn’t available in a biosimilar form.

Biosimilars are like generic drugs. But unlike generics, which are made for non-biologic drugs, biosimilars are made for biologic drugs.

Biosimilars will have the same active ingredient core name as the brand-name drug. But they’ll have unique suffixes. This is why “-dlle” appears at the end of the name of the active ingredient. This is to show that it’s distinct from biosimilars that may be created in the future.

Imdelltra has boxed warnings. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details, see the “What should be considered before receiving Imdelltra?” section.

Imdelltra is used to treat extensive stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC) in certain adults.

SCLC is a type of lung cancer that grows and spreads quickly. “Extensive” means the cancer has spread through your lungs and to other areas of your body, including nearby lymph nodes. It may cause symptoms such as cough, chest pain, and difficulty breathing.

Imdelltra is used after platinum-based chemotherapy drugs have not worked or have stopped working. Examples of these chemotherapy drugs include cisplatin and carboplatin.

Imdelltra is a type of immunotherapy drug. It works by attaching to both immune system cells and cancer cells. This helps activate the immune system cells to work against the cancer cells. In this way, Imdelltra helps treat SCLC.

For more details about how Imdelltra works, visit the drug manufacturer’s website. You can also talk with your doctor.

Like most drugs, Imdelltra may cause mild to serious side effects. The lists below contain some of the more common side effects Imdelltra may cause, but they don’t include all possible side effects.

Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:

  • your age
  • other health conditions you have
  • other medications you take

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Imdelltra. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.

Mild side effects

Here’s a list of some of the mild side effects that Imdelltra can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist or read Imdelltra’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Imdelltra that have been reported include:

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Imdelltra can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Imdelltra, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects of Imdelltra that have been reported include:

* For more information, see the “What should be considered before receiving Imdelltra?” section.

ALLERGIC REACTION

For some people, Imdelltra can cause an allergic reaction. But this side effect wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies.

In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should keep taking Imdelltra.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Imdelltra, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Imdelltra that’s right for you. Below are commonly used dosages, but the dosage you receive will be determined by your doctor.

Form and strengths

Imdelltra is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion (an injection into your vein over a period of time) by your doctor or another healthcare professional.

Imdelltra is available in two strengths: 1 milligram (mg) and 10 mg.

Recommended dosages

The usual dosage schedule for Imdelltra is as follows:

  • First dose: 1 mg
  • Second dose: 10 mg given 1 week after the first dose
  • Third dose: 10 mg given 1 week after the second dose

After the first three doses, you’ll continue receiving one 10-mg infusion of Imdelltra every 2 weeks.

How Imdelltra is given

Your doctor will explain how Imdelltra will be given to you. They’ll also explain how much you’ll be given and how often.

Imdelltra is given as an IV infusion. Each infusion lasts about 1 hour. You’ll receive Imdelltra from your doctor or another healthcare professional in a clinic, hospital, or infusion center.

When you receive your first few doses, you’ll likely stay at the facility where you received the infusion for a few hours or days. This will allow your doctor to closely monitor you for any serious side effects.* They’ll advise you on how long you’ll need to stay at the facility.

For more details about what to expect with Imdelltra infusions, visit the drug manufacturer’s website. You can also talk with your doctor to learn more.

* Imdelltra has boxed warnings for certain serious side effects. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details, see the “What should be considered before receiving Imdelltra?” section.

Questions about receiving Imdelltra

Below are some common questions about receiving Imdelltra.

  • What if I miss a dose of Imdelltra? If you miss an appointment to receive an infusion of Imdelltra, call your doctor’s office as soon as possible to reschedule.
  • Will I need to use Imdelltra long term? Imdelltra is typically used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that it’s safe and effective for your condition, you’ll likely receive infusions long term.
  • How long does Imdelltra take to work? Imdelltra begins to work after you receive your first infusion. But you likely won’t feel the drug working in your body. Your doctor will order tests throughout your treatment to check whether Imdelltra is working to treat your condition.

Below is important information you should consider before receiving Imdelltra.

Interactions

Taking a drug with certain medications, vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the drug works. These effects are called interactions.

Imdelltra is not known to interact with other medications, herbs, supplements, foods, or alcohol. The manufacturer of Imdelltra did not look at interactions in studies of the drug.

Before starting Imdelltra treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also, tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you take. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Imdelltra is not safe to receive during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

If you can become pregnant, your doctor may have you take a pregnancy test before you receive Imdelltra infusions.

If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning for either, talk with your doctor before starting Imdelltra treatment.

Birth control

If you’re able to become pregnant, you should use birth control throughout your Imdelltra treatment and for 2 months after your final dose.

Boxed warnings

Imdelltra has boxed warnings. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about drug effects that may be dangerous.

Boxed warnings for Imdelltra include:

Risk of cytokine release syndrome (CRS): Imdelltra treatment may cause CRS. This means the drug may cause a rapid release of certain proteins into your blood, resulting in an overactive immune system.

Mild symptoms of CRS were common in studies of Imdelltra. These include fatigue, fast heart rate, and headache.

Severe symptoms of CRS can be life threatening. However, these were less common in the drug’s studies. With severe CRS, you may have liver or kidney failure, sudden breathing problems, or abnormal blood clotting.

Due to the risk of CRS, you’ll receive Imdelltra from your doctor or another healthcare professional in a clinic, hospital, or infusion center.

When you receive your first few doses, you’ll likely stay at the facility where you received the infusion for a few hours or days. This will allow your doctor to closely monitor you for CRS or other serious side effects. They’ll advise you on how long you’ll need to stay at the facility.

To lower your risk of CRS, your doctor may give you a corticosteroid drug with your Imdelltra infusion.

If you have symptoms of CRS during your Imdelltra treatment, contact your doctor right away. They’ll likely stop your Imdelltra infusions to treat your symptoms. Your doctor will determine whether it’s safe for you to continue receiving Imdelltra.

Risk of nervous system damage: Imdelltra treatment may damage your nervous system, including your brain and spinal cord.

Mild symptoms of nervous system damage were common in studies of Imdelltra. These include muscle weakness, dizziness, and headache.

Severe nervous system damage can be life threatening. This could include a condition called immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS). However, this was less common in the drug’s studies.

Symptoms of ICANS and other severe nervous system damage may include:

  • seizures
  • memory loss
  • confusion

Due to this risk, you’ll receive Imdelltra from a healthcare professional in a clinic, hospital, or infusion center.

After your first few doses, you’ll likely stay at the facility where you received the infusion for a few hours or days. This will allow your doctor to closely monitor you for nervous system damage or other serious side effects. They’ll advise you on how long to stay at the facility.

If you have symptoms of nervous system damage during Imdelltra treatment, contact your doctor right away. They’ll likely advise you to avoid driving or performing dangerous activities until your symptoms have stopped.

Your doctor may also stop your Imdelltra treatment and give you treatments for your symptoms. They’ll recommend whether it’s safe for you to continue receiving Imdelltra infusions.

Other warnings

Imdelltra can sometimes cause harmful effects in people who have certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect whether Imdelltra is a good treatment option for you.

Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Imdelltra. Be sure to tell them if any of the following factors apply to you:

Whether you have health insurance or not, cost may be a factor when you’re considering Imdelltra. What you’ll pay for Imdelltra may depend on several factors, including your treatment plan.

If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. A program called Amgen SupportPlus may also be available.

You can also check out this article to learn more about saving money on prescriptions.

Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. If you’d like to explore an alternative to Imdelltra, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that might work well for you.

Examples of other drugs used to treat extensive-stage small cell lung cancer include:

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.