Talvey is a brand-name prescription drug used to treat certain types of multiple myeloma in adults. Doses of Talvey are given via injections under your skin given by a healthcare professional.

Talvey (“tal-vay”) is a specific type of biological medication called a bispecific monoclonal antibody. It works with your body’s immune system to offer precise, targeted treatments for specific diseases.

It comes as a clear to light yellow colored liquid for subcutaneous (just under the skin) injection. The active ingredient in Talvey is called talquetamab-tgvs.

Talvey is manufactured by Janssen Biotech and distributed by Johnson & Johnson.

Key terms

  • Biologic medications (or “biologics”) are complex drugs made from natural, living sources. They can be composed of proteins, sugars, or nucleic acids (DNA or RNA), or they may be combinations of these substances. Biologics may also be living entities, such as cells and tissues.
  • Human monoclonal antibodies are lab-made proteins that are clones of a specific type of white blood cell that is part of the immune system. Unlike traditional monoclonal antibodies that target a single protein in the body, bispecific monoclonal antibodies like Talvey have two “arms” that bind to two different protein targets simultaneously.

Talvey is prescribed to adults to treat multiple myeloma (a type of blood cancer) that has come back or hasn’t responded to medications in the past.

Your doctor may prescribe Talvey if you’ve taken at least four other medications before it, including:

Key terms

Anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies are drugs that bind to a specific protein (CD38) on the surface of cancer cells. They can either destroy cancer cells themselves or make cancer cells more susceptible to being identified and killed by other immune system agents.

Talvey injections are a type of immunotherapy. This means it works with your body’s immune system to enhance its ability to fight infections and diseases.

Talvey is a bispecific antibody, which means it targets two specific proteins in the body.

One of these proteins, called GPRC5D, is found on multiple myeloma cells (cancerous blood cells). The other, called CD3, is found on a certain white blood cells in your immune system called T cells.

By binding to both the GPRC5D protein on multiple myeloma cells and the CD3 protein on T cells, Talvey helps the immune system recognize and destroy the multiple myeloma cells.

Boxed warning

Talvey has a boxed warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about risks of cytokine release syndrome and serious neurologic damage. A boxed warning is the strongest warning the FDA requires. It alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.

Because of these serious risks, Talvey is available only through a restricted program called the Tecvali and Talvey Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS), and Talvey injections can only be provided by a healthcare professional that is certified with the program.

The most common adverse reactions and side effects reported in clinical trials of Talvey included:

This list does not include all possible side effects of Talvey.

Talvey injections must be given my a certified medical professional. So you won’t be purchasing Talvey from a pharmacy.

For details on how much your Talvey treatments will cost and whether and cost savings programs are available, talk with doctor or insurance company.

Also, visit the Talvey website to see if you may be eligible for savings and support programs sponsored by the drug manufacturer.

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Here are a few things to consider before starting treatment with Talvey:

Boxed warning

Talvey has a boxed warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about risks of cytokine release syndrome and serious neurologic damage. A boxed warning is the strongest warning the FDA requires. It alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.

For details (including treatment alternatives that may not have these risks), talk with your doctor.

Interactions

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

Talvey can interact with several other medications.

Before starting Talvey 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 potential drug interactions with Talvey based on the current medications you take, talk with your doctor.

Talvey and alcohol

Alcohol isn’t known to interact with Talvey. However, drinking alcohol may increase your risk of liver problems. Talvey may also cause liver problems. So drinking alcohol while receiving Talvey may increase your risk of liver problems.

Because of this, your doctor may recommend that you limit the amount of alcohol you drink during Talvey treatment.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Your doctor will likely recommend that you do not receive Talvey while you’re pregnant due to a risk of fetal harm. They may have you take a pregnancy test before you start treatment.

If you’re planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor before starting Talvey treatment.

You should not breastfeed during Talvey treatment and for 3 months after your last dose.

Birth control

If you’re able to become pregnant, you should use effective birth control throughout your Talvey treatment. And you should continue using it for 3 months after your last dose.

Boxed warning

Talvey has boxed warnings about the risks of cytokine release syndrome and serious neurologic damage. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA about drug effects that may be dangerous.

Your health history

Talvey 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 Talvey is a good treatment option for you.

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

  • active infection or skin rash
  • low blood levels of platelets or neutrophils
  • mouth ulcers or other oral problems that make swallowing difficult
  • liver problems
  • past allergic reaction to Talvey or any of its ingredients
  • pregnancy or breastfeeding

Talvey is usually prescribed as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that it’s safe and effective for your condition, your Talvey treatment will likely continue long term.

It’s not known whether Talvey causes long-term side effects.

(Long-term side effects include those that may start at any time during treatment with a drug, even if you’ve been receiving treatment with it for a long time. It also includes side effects that may not go away, even after you stop treatment with the drug.)

No adverse effects reported in Talvey’s clinical trials were identified as long-term side effects.

If you are concerned about possible long-term side effects from Talvey, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

At this time, the FDA has not approved use of Talvey for indications other than treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma in adults who have received at least four prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor, an immunomodulatory agent and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody.

Talvey is an injectable biologic medication used to treat multiple myeloma in adults who have received at least four prior lines of therapy without success.

Due to certain serious risks associated with Talvey injections, the drug is available only through a restricted program called the Tecvali and Talvey Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS), and Talvey injections can only be provided by a healthcare professional that is certified with the program.

This is a summary article for general educational purposes only. For more details about this drug, read Talvey’s prescribing information or talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Disclaimer: While Healthline strives for factual, comprehensive, and current information, this article is not a substitute for a licensed healthcare professional’s expertise. Always consult a doctor before taking or discontinuing any medication. Drug information is subject to change and may not cover all uses, directions, precautions, warnings, interactions, reactions, or adverse effects. The lack of a warning does not guarantee a drug’s safety, effectiveness, or appropriateness for all patients or specific uses. Learn more about our approach to content integrity.