tebentafusp
tebentafusp
Pronunciation:
te-BEN-ta-fusp
Other Name(s):
Kimmtrak®
Appearance:
yellowish solution, mixed into larger bags of fluids
This handout gives general information about this cancer medication.
You will learn:
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who to contact for help
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what the medication is
-
how it is given
-
what to expect while on medication
This handout was created by Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) together with patients and their caregivers who have also gone through cancer treatment. It is meant to help support you through your cancer treatment and answer some of your questions.
This information does not replace the advice of your health care team. Always talk to your health care team about your treatment.
My cancer health care provider is: _____________________________________________
During the day I should contact: _______________________________________________
Evenings, weekends and holidays: _____________________________________________
This page gives general information about this cancer medication.
You will learn:
-
who to contact for help
-
what the medication is
-
how it is given
-
what to expect while on this medication
This information was created by Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) together with patients and their caregivers who have also gone through cancer treatment. It is meant to help support you through your cancer treatment and answer some of your questions.
This information does not replace the advice of your health care team. Always talk to your health care team about your treatment.
- Tebentafusp is used to treat a type of eye cancer called uveal melanoma.
- Tebentafusp is a T-cell engaging antibody. For more information, see our Treating cancer with T-cell engaging antibodies: What you need to know pamphlet.
Tell your health care team if you have or had significant medical condition(s), especially if you have / had:
- heart problems
- adrenal gland problems (such as Addison's disease)
- any allergies
Remember To:
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Tell your health care team about all of the other medications you are taking.
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Keep taking other medications that have been prescribed for you, unless you have been told not to by your health care team.
You will have a blood test to check for hepatitis B before starting treatment. See the Hepatitis B and Cancer Medications pamphlet for more information.
- This drug is given through an IV (injected into a vein) .
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You may be admitted to hospital when you get your first treatments so that your health care team can monitor how your body reacts. Your health care team may give you medications before your treatments to help prevent side effects.
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Your tebentafusp infusion will be given according to a step-up schedule (also known as ramp-up) for the first 3 doses. This means that your doses will start off smaller and will be increased over time so that your health care team can make sure you do not have any problems with the medication. Talk to your health care team about your treatment schedule.
- If you miss your treatment appointment, talk to your health care team to find out what to do.
To Prevent or Treat Nausea and Vomiting
You may be given medications to prevent or stop nausea (feeling like throwing up) and vomiting (throwing up) before they start. These are called anti-nausea medications.
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Medications to prevent nausea and vomiting before they start include ondansetron (Zofran®), granisetron (Kytril®), dexamethasone or others.
If you already have nausea and/or vomiting, some anti-nausea medications can stop them from getting worse. You may be given these medications to have at home in case you start to feel nausea or if you vomit.
- Medications to stop nausea and vomiting include prochlorperazine (Stemetil®), metoclopramide (Maxeran®), or others.
Tebentafusp causes your immune system to work harder. Your immune system is what fights infections and your cancer.
When your immune system is working harder, it can also damage healthy cells. This can cause side effects that are different from other cancer medications, like chemotherapy.
Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) can happen when your immune system responds aggressively to tebentafusp. CRS usually happens during the ramp up schedule and with your first full dose. The symptoms can be mild but can also quickly become severe and life-threatening.
CRS can be treated. It is important to catch it early so that the treatment has the best chance of working well. Talk to your healthcare team right away if you have any of the following signs of CRS:
- Fever higher than 38°C
- Trouble breathing
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
- Flu-like symptoms (such as chills, body aches and fatigue)
- Severe nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
Ask your health care team for the Treating cancer with T-cell engaging antibodies: What you need to know pamphlet for more information.
You will be given a wallet card that has information and instructions for other health care providers about your treatment and possible side-effects. Show this card to all health care providers, especially if you need to go to the emergency room.
- DO check with your health care team before getting any vaccinations, surgery, dental work or other medical procedures.
- DO consider asking someone to drive you to and from the hospital on your treatment days. You may feel drowsy or dizzy after your treatment.
- DO tell your health care team if you have an adrenal insufficiency (such as Addison's disease). Your health care team may need to adjust your corticosteroid dose during your tebentafusp treatment.
- DO NOT smoke or drink alcohol while on treatment without talking to your health care team first. Smoking and drinking can make side effects worse and make your treatment not work as well.
- DO NOT take any other medications, such as vitamins, over-the-counter (non-prescription) drugs or substances, or natural health products without checking with your health care team.
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DO NOT start any complementary or alternative therapies, such as acupuncture or homeopathic medications, without checking with your health care team.
- DO check with your health care team before getting any vaccinations, surgery, dental work or other medical procedures.
- DO consider asking someone to drive you to and from the hospital on your treatment days. You may feel drowsy or dizzy after your treatment.
- DO tell your health care team if you have an adrenal insufficiency (such as Addison's disease). Your health care team may need to adjust your corticosteroid dose during your tebentafusp treatment.
- DO NOT smoke or drink alcohol while on treatment without talking to your health care team first. Smoking and drinking can make side effects worse and make your treatment not work as well.
- DO NOT take any other medications, such as vitamins, over-the-counter (non-prescription) drugs or substances, or natural health products without checking with your health care team.
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DO NOT start any complementary or alternative therapies, such as acupuncture or homeopathic medications, without checking with your health care team.
- Yes, this medication can interact with other medications, vitamins, foods, traditional medicines and natural health products. Interactions can make this medication not work as well or cause severe side effects.
- Tell your health care team about all of your:
- prescription and over-the-counter (non-prescription) medications
- other drugs and substances, such as cannabis/marijuana (medical or recreational)
- natural health products such as vitamins, herbal teas, homeopathic medicines, and other supplements, or traditional medicines
- Check with your health care team before starting or stopping any of them.
- Tell your health care team about all of your:
- If you are taking a blood thinner (such as warfarin), your health care team may need extra blood tests and may change your dose.
- If you take medications to help with your blood pressure, your health care team may ask you to stop these medications 24 hours before and during your treatment.
- Anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen (Advil® or Motrin®), naproxen (Aleve®) or Aspirin®.
- Over-the-counter products such as dimenhydrinate (Gravol®)
- Natural health products such as St. John’s Wort
- Traditional medicines
- Supplements such as vitamin C
- Grapefruit juice
- Alcoholic drinks
- Tobacco
- All other drugs or substances, such as marijuana or cannabis (medical or recreational)
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Always check your temperature to see if you have a fever before taking any medications for fever or pain (such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Advil®)).
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Fever can be a sign of infection or CRS that may need treatment right away.
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If you take these medications before you check for fever, they may lower your temperature and you may not know you have an infection or CRS.
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How to check for fever:
Keep a digital (electronic) thermometer at home and take your temperature if you feel hot or unwell (for example, chills, headache, mild pain).
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You have a fever if your temperature taken in your mouth (oral temperature) is:
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38.0°C (100.4°F) or higher.
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If you do have a fever:
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Try to contact your health care team. If you are not able to talk to them for advice, you MUST get emergency medical help right away.
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Ask your health care team for the Treating cancer with T-cell engaging antibodies: What you need to know pamphlet for more information.
If you do not have a fever but have mild symptoms such as headache or mild pain:
- Ask your health care team about the right medication for you. Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) is a safe choice for most people.
Talk to your health care team before you start taking ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®), naproxen (Aleve®) or ASA (Aspirin®), as they may increase your chance of bleeding or interact with your cancer treatment.
Talk to your health care team if you already take low dose aspirin for a medical condition (such as a heart problem). It may still be safe to take.
Talk to your health care team about:
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How this medication may affect your sexual health.
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How this medication may affect your ability to have a baby, if this applies to you.
This medication may harm an unborn baby. Tell your health care team if you or your partner are pregnant, become pregnant during treatment, or are breastfeeding.
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If there is any chance of pregnancy happening, you and your partner together must use 2 effective forms of birth control at the same time until at least one week after your last dose. Talk to your health care team about which birth control options are best for you.
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Do not breastfeed while on this medication and for at least one week after your last dose.
The following table lists side effects that you may have when getting tebentafusp treatment. The table is set up to list the most common side effects first and the least common last. It is unlikely that you will have all of the side effects listed and you may have some that are not listed.
Read over the side effect table so that you know what to look for and when to get help. Refer to this table if you experience any side effects while on tebentafusp treatment.
Some side effects can become serious or life-threatening very quickly. You must tell your health care team right away if:
- You start to have any new side effects, especially if severe.
- You notice any of your side effects getting worse.
Very Common Side Effects (50 or more out of 100 people) | |
Side effects and what to do | When to contact health care team |
Cytokine release syndrome (may be severe) Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) can happen when your immune system responds aggressively to tebentafusp. This can cause the release of a large amount of proteins called cytokines. CRS usually happens at the start of treatment, when your immune system starts to work harder (within hours and up to a few days of getting your first 3 doses). Symptoms of CRS can be mild but can also quickly become severe and life-threatening. Your health care team will monitor you more closely during and for a few days after your first 3 doses, and do blood tests as necessary. What to look for?
What to do?
If you have left the hospital:
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Talk to your health care team. If you are unable to talk to the team for advice, you must get emergency medical help right away. |
Rash; dry, itchy skin (May be severe) What to look for?
What to do? To prevent and treat dry skin:
Rash may be severe in some rare cases and cause your skin to blister or peel. If this happens, get emergency medical help right away.
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Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Fever, chills You have a fever if your temperature taken in your mouth (oral temperature) is:
What to look for?
If your health care team has told you that you have low neutrophils:
If you have a fever: If you have a fever, try to contact your health care team. If you are unable to talk to the team for advice, you must get emergency medical help right away.
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If you have a fever, try to contact your health care team. If you are unable to talk to the team for advice, you MUST get emergency medical help right away. |
Fatigue What to look for?
What to do?
Ask your health care team for the Fatigue pamphlet for more information. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Common Side Effects (25 to 49 out of 100 people) | |
Side effects and what to do | When to contact health care team |
Nausea and vomiting (Generally mild) What to look for?
What to do? To help prevent nausea:
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Talk to your healthcare team if nausea lasts more than 48 hours or vomiting lasts more than 24 hours or if it is severe |
Changes in skin or hair colour This may happen weeks or months after your tebentafusp treatment. What to look for?
What to do?
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Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Mild swelling What to look for?
What to do?
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Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Low blood pressure What to look for?
What to do?
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Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Mild Headache, joint, muscle pain or cramps What to look for?
What to do?
Ask your health care team for the Pain pamphlet for more information. If you have a sudden, severe headache get emergency medical help right away. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Diarrhea What to look for?
What to do? If you have diarrhea:
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Talk to your health care team if no improvement after 24 hours of taking diarrhea medication or if severe (more than 7 times in one day) |
Less Common Side Effects (10 to 24 out of 100 people) | |
Side effects and what to do | When to contact health care team |
Liver problems Your health care team may check your liver function with a blood test. Liver changes do not usually cause any symptoms.
If you have any symptoms of liver problems, get emergency medical help right away.
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Get emergency medical help right away |
Low appetite What to look for?
Ask your health care team for the Loss of Appetite pamphlet for more information.
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Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Constipation What to look for?
What to do? To help prevent constipation:
To help treat constipation:
Ask your health care team for the Constipation Pamphlet for more information.
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Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Cough and feeling short of breath What to look for?
What to do?
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Talk to your health care team. If you are not able to talk to your health care team for advice, and you have a fever or severe symptoms, you MUST get emergency medical help right away |
High blood pressure What to look for?
What to do?
If you have a severe headache get emergency help right away as it may be a sign your blood pressure is too high. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Anemia (low red blood cells) What to look for?
What to do? If your health care team has told you that you have anemia (low red blood cells):
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Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Other rare, but serious side effects are possible.
If you experience ANY of the following, speak to your cancer health care provider or get emergency medical help right away:
- Irregular or fast heartbeat, shortness of breath, chest pain or fainting spells
For more information on how to manage your symptoms ask your health care provider, or visit: https://www.cancercareontario.ca/symptoms.
August 2025 Updated patient medication information sheet
The information set out in the medication information sheets, regimen information sheets, and symptom management information (for patients) contained in the Drug Formulary (the "Formulary") is intended to be used by health professionals and patients for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or side effects of a certain drug, nor should it be used to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for a given condition.
A patient should always consult a healthcare provider if he/she has any questions regarding the information set out in the Formulary. The information in the Formulary is not intended to act as or replace medical advice and should not be relied upon in any such regard. All uses of the Formulary are subject to clinical judgment and actual prescribing patterns may not follow the information provided in the Formulary.