Generic name: isatuximab-irfc
Dosage form: injection, for intravenous use
Drug class: CD38 monoclonal antibodies

Medically reviewed by Judith Stewart, BPharm. Last updated on Sep 4, 2023.

What is Sarclisa?

Sarclisa is a prescription medicine used in combination with:

• the medicines pomalidomide and dexamethasone, to treat adults who have received at least 2 prior therapies including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor to treat multiple myeloma.
• the medicines carfilzomib and dexamethasone, to treat adults with multiple myeloma who have already received 1 to 3 lines of treatment and they did not work or are no longer working.

It is not known if Sarclisa is safe and effective in children.

Who should not receive Sarclisa?

You should not receive Sarclisa if you have a history of a severe allergic reaction to isatuximab-irfc or any of the ingredients. See the end of this page for complete list of ingredients.

Before receiving Sarclisa

Before receiving Sarclisa, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

• have heart problems, if your healthcare provider prescribes Sarclisa in combination with carfilzomib and dexamethasone for you.
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Sarclisa may harm your unborn baby. You should not receive this medicine during pregnancy.
  • Females who are able to become pregnant should use an effective method of birth control during treatment and for 5 months after your last dose. Talk to your healthcare provider about birth control methods that you can use during this time.
    Tell your healthcare provider right away if you think you are pregnant or become pregnant during treatment.
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Sarclisa passes into your breast milk. You should not breastfeed during treatment.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Related/similar drugs

Abecma, Tecvayli, Revlimid, Darzalex, Velcade, Pomalyst, Kyprolis

How will I receive Sarclisa?

• Sarclisa will be given to you by your healthcare provider by intravenous (IV) infusion into your vein.
• Sarclisa is given in treatment cycles of 28 days (4 weeks), together with the medicines pomalidomide and dexamethasone, or carfilzomib and dexamethasone.
  • In cycle 1, Sarclisa is usually given weekly.
  • Starting in cycle 2, Sarclisa is usually given every 2 weeks.
    Your healthcare provider will decide how long you should receive this medicine.
• If you miss any appointments, call your healthcare provider as soon as possible to reschedule your appointment.
• Your healthcare provider will give you medicines before each dose of Sarclisa, to help reduce the risk of infusion reactions (make them less frequent and severe).

Sarclisa side effects

• Sarclisa may cause serious side effects including:
• Infusion reactions. Infusion reactions are common and can sometimes be severe or life threatening.
  • Your healthcare provider will prescribe medicines before each infusion of Sarclisa to help decrease your risk for infusion reactions or to help make any infusion reaction less severe. You will be monitored for infusion reactions during each dose.
  • Your healthcare provider may slow down or stop your infusion, or completely stop treatment if you have an infusion reaction.

Get medical help right away if you develop any of the following symptoms of infusion reaction during or after an infusion of Sarclisa:

• • shortness of breath, wheezing or trouble breathing
  • swelling of the face, mouth, throat, or tongue
  • throat tightness
  • palpitations
  • dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting
  • headache
  • cough
  • rash or itching
  • nausea
  • runny or stuffy nose
  • chills
• Decreased white blood cell counts. Decreased white blood cell counts are common with Sarclisa and certain white blood cells can be severely decreased. You may have an increased risk of getting certain infections, such as upper and lower respiratory tract infections and urinary tract infections.
  Your healthcare provider will check your blood cell counts during treatment. Your healthcare provider may prescribe an antibiotic or antiviral
  medicine to help prevent infection, or a medicine to help increase your white blood cell counts during treatment.
  
  Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any fever or symptoms of infection during treatment.
• Risk of new cancers. New cancers have happened in people during treatment with Sarclisa. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for new cancers during treatment.
• Change in blood tests. Sarclisa can affect the results of blood tests to match your blood type. Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to match your blood type before you start treatment.
  
  Tell all of your healthcare providers that you are being treated with Sarclisa before receiving blood transfusions.
• Heart failure. Heart failure can happen during treatment with Sarclisa in combination with carfilzomib and dexamethasone. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any of the following symptoms:
  • trouble breathing
  • cough
  • swelling of your ankles, feet, and legs

The most common side effects of Sarclisa in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone include:

• lung infection (pneumonia)
• decreased red blood cell counts (anemia)
• upper respiratory tract infection
• decreased platelet counts  (thrombocytopenia)
• diarrhea

The most common side effects of Sarclisa in combination with carfilzomib and dexamethasone include:

• upper respiratory tract infection
• tiredness and weakness
• high blood pressure
• diarrhea
• trouble sleeping
• bronchitis
• cough
• back pain
• lung infection (pneumonia)
• trouble breathing
• decreased red blood cell counts (anemia)
• decrease platelet count (thrombocytopenia) 

These are not all the possible side effects. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

General information about the safe and effective use of Sarclisa.

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Information leaflet. You can ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for information that is written for health professionals.

What are the ingredients in Sarclisa?

Active ingredient: isatuximab-irfc

Inactive ingredients: histidine, histidine hydrochloride monohydrate, polysorbate 80, sucrose, and water for injection.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer