talimogene laherparepvec at a glance
Medicine class
Oncolytic viral immunotherapy and antineoplastic cell and gene therapy
Licensed use
Selected adults with unresectable stage IIIB, IIIC or IVM1a melanoma without bone, brain, lung or other visceral disease
Administration
Injected directly into accessible skin, subcutaneous or lymph-node lesions by a specialist cancer team
Important precaution
Injected lesions must remain covered as instructed to reduce accidental viral transmission
What is talimogene laherparepvec used for?
The licence covers:
Adults with unresectable stage IIIB, IIIC or IVM1a melanoma with regional or distant spread, provided there is no bone, brain, lung or other visceral disease.
How does talimogene laherparepvec work?
The modified virus preferentially replicates in tumour tissue, causing cancer cells to break down and release tumour antigens. It also produces GM-CSF to help activate an immune response against melanoma cells, including cells beyond the injected lesion.
How to take talimogene laherparepvec
It is given only in a healthcare facility by a cancer specialist, injected directly into suitable lesions. It is not swallowed or self-injected.
Keep the Patient Alert Card and show it when receiving medical care.
Do not touch or scratch injected areas. Keep them covered with airtight, watertight dressings as instructed.
Replace a loose or fallen dressing with a clean one. Seal used dressings and cleaning materials in a plastic bag before household disposal.
Avoid direct contact between injection sites or body fluids and close contacts. Pregnant or immunocompromised close contacts should not change dressings or clean injection sites.
Use a latex condom during sexual contact and follow the specialist team's precautions to reduce viral transmission.
talimogene laherparepvec side effects
Common or expected effects
- Fatigue, fever, chills and influenza-like illness
- Injection-site pain, redness, swelling, bleeding, inflammation or discharge
- Headache, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or constipation
- Muscle, joint or limb pain
- Peripheral swelling
- Cellulitis or herpes infections
Get urgent medical advice
- Symptoms of widespread herpes infection, including new blisters or sores, confusion, seizures, marked drowsiness, weakness, severe headache or eye symptoms
- Painful, hot, red or swollen injection sites, discharge, fever or chills suggesting cellulitis or another bacterial infection
- New or worsening breathlessness, particularly with a neck lesion
- Possible immune-mediated inflammation, such as worsening breathlessness, blood or froth in the urine, fluid retention or worsening psoriasis
- A serious allergic reaction
talimogene laherparepvec in pregnancy
There are no adequate studies in pregnant women, and fetal or neonatal risk from the modified herpes virus cannot be excluded. Use during pregnancy should be avoided as a precaution. People who could become pregnant should use effective contraception and promptly discuss pregnancy or plans for pregnancy with the specialist team.
talimogene laherparepvec while breastfeeding
It is unknown whether it passes into human milk. The specialist team and patient must decide whether to stop breastfeeding or avoid treatment after weighing benefits for the child and patient.
talimogene laherparepvec interactions
Formal interaction studies have not been conducted. The main recognised interaction is with anti-herpes treatment.
Acyclovir and other anti-herpes antiviral medicines
Systemic use, or topical use directly at an injection site, may reduce viral activity and interfere with effectiveness. The cancer team should assess benefits and risks.
Common questions about talimogene laherparepvec
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What is talimogene laherparepvec used for?
It is licensed for selected adults with melanoma that cannot be removed surgically and has spread regionally or to certain distant sites without bone, brain, lung or other visceral disease.
Is it chemotherapy?
No. It is an oncolytic viral immunotherapy made from a modified herpes simplex virus, although it is an anticancer treatment.
How is it administered?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.