Kepivance

Brand Names

Kepivance

What is Kepivance

Kepivance (palifermin) is a human keratinocyte growth factors (KGF). KGF works by stimulating the growth of cells lining the surface of the mouth and intestinal tract. Kepivance is used to treat sores and ulcers in the mouth in patients with blood cancers who receive high doses of chemotherapy and radiation therapy before bone marrow transplants.

Side effects of Kepivance

The most common side effects of Kepivance included:

• joint pain
• thick tongue
• change in color of tongue or in ability to taste food
• increased /decreased sensitivity to touch, especially in and around the mouth
• burning or tingling, especially in and around the mouth

If you have noticed any of these serious side effects, you should inform your doctor at once:

• rash
• warm, red skin
• itching
• swelling of the hands, feet, ankles or lower legs
• fever

Indication

Kepivance is used to stop the developing of swelling, irritation and sores on the lining of the mouth and throat that may be as a result of chemotherapy that is used to cure cancers of the blood or bone marrow.

This medication is also used to accelerate the healing of the lining of the mouth and throat if it is caused by chemotherapy.

Precautions

It’s very important to inform your doctor if:

• you are allergic to palifermin, medications made from E. coli (a type of bacteria) proteins or any other drugs
• you take any other prescription or nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements and herbal products
• you have or have ever had a liver or kidney disease
• you are pregnant or breastfeeding

Dosage forms

There is only one form of Kepivance- injection into a vein.

You should have 3 doses of kepivance before and after your cancer chemotherapy treatment, but not on the same day. Kepivance should be given at least 24 hours before and after chemotherapy.

The recommended dosage of Kepivance is 60 mcg/kg/day, a IV bolus injection for 3 consecutive days before and after myelotoxic therapy for a total of 6 doses.

Pre-myelotoxic therapy: you should take the first 3 doses before myelotoxic therapy with the third dose 24-48 hours before myelotoxic therapy.

Post-myelotoxic therapy: you should take the last 3 doses after myelotoxic therapy; the first of these doses should be given after, but on the same day of hematopoietic stem cell infusion and at least 4 days after the most recent usage of Kepivance.