amivantamab
amivantamab
Pronunciation:
a-mih-VAN-tuh-mab
Other Name(s):
Rybrevant®
Appearance:
pale yellow liquid 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
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how it is given
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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.
- Amivantamab is used to treat a certain type of lung cancer called non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Tell your health care team if you have or had significant medical condition(s), especially if you have / had:
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lung or breathing problems
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skin conditions (such as psoriasis or rosacea)
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eye problems, or if you use contact lenses
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blood clots (especially in your legs or lungs)
- 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 medication is given through an IV (injected into a vein). Talk to your health care team about your treatment schedule.
- Amivantamab may be given over a longer period of time during the first cycle. If you don’t have problems with these infusions, it will be given over a shorter time for the following cycles.
- You will be given this treatment along with other medications to help prevent allergic reactions or skin rash.
- If you missed your treatment appointment, talk to your health care team to find out what to do.
To Prevent Allergic Reaction
You will be given medications before your treatment to help prevent allergic reactions before they start.
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There are different types of medications to stop allergic reactions. They are called:
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antihistamines (such as diphenhydramine or Benadryl®)
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analgesics/antipyretics (such as acetaminophen or Tylenol®)
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corticosteroids (such as dexamethasone)
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To Prevent Skin Rash
You may be given medications to use during your amivantamab treatment to prevent skin rashes, or stop them from getting worse.
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These medications may include:
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a corticosteroid applied to your skin, such as hydrocortisone cream.
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an antibiotic, such as clindamycin (applied to your skin) or doxycycline (taken by mouth)
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| DO this while on treatment | DO NOT do this while on treatment | |
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|
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DO check with your health care team before getting any vaccinations, surgery, dental work or other medical procedures.
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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.
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DO protect your skin from the sun. Wear a long sleeved shirt, long pants and a hat. Apply sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection and an SPF of at least 30. Your skin may be more sensitive to the sun and you could develop a bad sunburn or rash more easily. You will need to do this while on treatment and for 2 months after your treatment ends.
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DO use moisturizers regularly on your skin and nails while on treatment and for 2 months after treatment ends. Make sure you use an emollient (such as cream or ointment) that is alcohol and fragrance-free.
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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 products, without checking with your health care team.
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DO NOT use tobacco products (such as smoking cigarettes or vaping) 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.
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DO NOT drive or operate machinery if your vision is blurry or impaired in any way.
Although this medication is unlikely to interact with other medications, vitamins, foods, traditional medicines and natural health products, 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.
- 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 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.
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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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38.3°C (100.9°F) or higher at any time
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OR
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38.0°C (100.4°F) or higher for at least one hour.
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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 Fever 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:
- How this treatment may affect your sexual health
- How this treatment may affect your ability to have a baby, if this applies to you
This treatment may harm an unborn baby. Tell your health care team if you or your partner are pregnant, become pregnant during treatment, or are breastfeeding.
- 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 3 months after your last treatment dose. Talk to your health care team about which birth control options are best for you.
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Do not donate sperm while on treatment and for 3 months after your last dose.
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Do not breastfeed while on this treatment and for 3 months after your last dose.
The following table lists side effects that you may have when getting amivantamab 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 amivantamab treatment.
| Very Common Side Effects (50 or more out of 100 people) | |
| Side effects and what to do | When to contact health care team |
|
Rash; dry, itchy skin (May be severe) What to look for?
What to do? To prevent and treat dry skin:
Continue this skin care routine for 2 months after your treatment ends.
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. |
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Allergic reaction What to look for?
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Get emergency medical help right away for severe symptoms. |
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Nail changes What to look for?
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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 |
|
Headache, mild 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. |
|
Low levels of albumin in your blood Albumin is a protein that is found in the blood. It helps to maintain pressure in the blood vessels and move substances, such as hormones and medications through your body. Your health care team may check your levels of albumin with a blood test. Low albumin may not cause any symptoms unless your level is very low. What to look for?
What to do? If you have any of these symptoms, talk to your health care team. If you have swelling in your belly, get emergency medical help right away. |
If you have any of these symptoms, talk to your health care team. If you have swelling in your belly, 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.
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Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe. |
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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. |
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Mouth sores What to look for?
To help prevent mouth sores:
If you have mouth sores:
Ask your health care team for the Oral Care (Mouth Care) pamphlet for more information. |
Talk to your health care team as soon as you notice mouth or lip sores or if it hurts to eat, drink or swallow. |
| Less Common Side Effects (10 to 24 out of 100 people) | |
| Side effects and what to do | When to contact health care team |
|
Nausea and vomiting What to look for?
What to do? To help prevent nausea:
If you have nausea or vomiting:
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Contact your healthcare team if nausea lasts more than 48 hours or vomiting lasts more than 24 hours. |
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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. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe. |
|
Too much or too little salt in your body What to look for?
What to do? Get emergency medical help right away for severe symptoms. |
Get emergency medical help right away for severe symptoms. |
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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. |
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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. |
Get emergency medical help right away. |
|
Low appetite What to look for?
What to do?
Ask your health care team for the Loss of Appetite pamphlet for more information. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe. |
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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). |
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Eye problems What to look for?
What to do?
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Contact your health care team as soon as possible (office hours). |
Other rare, but serious side effects are possible with this treatment.
If you have any of the following, talk to your cancer health care team or get emergency medical help right away:
- pain, swelling and hardening of a vein in your legs or arms.
For more information on how to manage your symptoms ask your health care provider, or visit: https://www.cancercareontario.ca/symptoms.
November 2025 New 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.
