Key takeaways

  • Tecartus (brexucabtagene autoleucel) is made from your own modified T cells (a type of white blood cell). It’s used to treat certain rare blood cancers in adults.
  • The dosage of Tecartus is determined by your body weight and a target T-cell range, which varies depending on the condition being treated. It’s usually given just once as an intravenous (IV) infusion in a hospital.
  • Before your infusion, you’ll receive certain medications to help Tecartus work better and help prevent side effects. You’ll stay at the hospital after the infusion for close monitoring.

Tecartus is used in adults to treat the following conditions that have either returned or haven’t responded to other treatments:

Note: For the treatment of mantle cell lymphoma, Tecartus received accelerated approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in July 2020. Accelerated approval is based on information from early studies. The FDA will decide on the full approval after more studies are completed.

The active ingredient in Tecartus is brexucabtagene autoleucel. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) Tecartus belongs to a group of drugs called CD19-directed genetically modified autologous T-cell immunotherapy.

Tecartus comes as an IV infusion (an injection into a vein over a period of time).

This article describes the dosage of Tecartus, as well as its strengths and how it’s administered. To learn more about Tecartus, see this in-depth article.

This section describes the dosage form and strength of Tecartus.

Tecartus form

Tecartus is given as an IV infusion by a healthcare professional in a hospital.

Tecartus strength

Tecartus is made from your own blood cells. It’s a type of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR T-cell therapy). Prior to receiving Tecartus, your blood will be drawn and sent to a lab. The lab will modify the T cells in your blood to better fight the cancer. The amount of modified T cells in your blood will depend on the type of cancer you have. (This is described in the following section.)

The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. But your doctor will determine the best dosage to meet your needs.

Dosage for mantle cell lymphoma

The typical Tecartus dosage for adults with mantle cell lymphoma that’s returned or that hasn’t responded to other therapies is based on your body weight. It’s also based on a target T-cell range.

After a blood draw, the lab will modify the number of T cells in your blood to better treat the cancer before sending it back for infusion. The target T-cell range in mantle cell lymphoma is 2 million to 200 million T cells per kilogram (kg) of body weight. (One kg equals about 2.2 pounds.)

Dosage for B-cell precursor ALL

For adults with B-cell precursor ALL that’s returned or hasn’t responded to other therapies, the typical Tecartus dosage is based on your body weight. It’s also based on a target T-cell range.

After a blood draw, the lab will modify the number of T cells in your blood to better treat the cancer before sending it back for infusion. The target T-cell range in B-cell precursor ALL is 1 million to 100 million T cells per kg of body weight.

Tecartus is an IV infusion made from your own blood. The infusion may be given through a vein in your chest.

Up to 5 days before your Tecartus infusion, you’ll receive two chemotherapy drugs, cyclophosphamide and fludarabine. You’ll be given acetaminophen and diphenhydramine 30 to 60 minutes before receiving Tecartus to help prevent side effects.

You’ll receive your Tecartus infusion over the course of 30 minutes in a healthcare facility such as a hospital. You’ll stay in the hospital for at least 7 days so your care team can monitor for side effects, such as CRS.

After these 7 days, you should stay somewhere close to the facility where you received Tecartus for at least 2 weeks.

Is Tecartus used long term?

No, Tecartus isn’t usually a long-term treatment. It’s typically given as a single IV infusion.

Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about the dosage of Tecartus.

Do older adults need a lower dose of Tecartus?

No. Based on studies, the manufacturer doesn’t recommend a lower dose of Tecartus for adults ages 65 years and older.

How long does it take for Tecartus to start working?

Tecartus starts to work after your dose. How long it takes for the cancer to improve depends on the type of cancer you have.

In studies, some people with mantle cell lymphoma noticed improvements after 28 days, though for others it took 92 days. And some people with B-cell precursor ALL noticed improvements after 56 days, though for others it took 86 days.

If you have other questions about what to expect from your Tecartus treatment, talk with your doctor.

If your doctor recommends Tecartus, here are some examples of questions you may want to ask:

  • Will I continue to take chemotherapy drugs after my Tecartus infusion?
  • Can I receive Tecartus again?
  • How will you monitor me for side effects, including cancer, after I leave the healthcare facility?

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.