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Carfilzomib

Generic name: carfilzomib
Brand name: Kyprolis
Dosage form: intravenous (infusion) injection
Drug class: Proteasome inhibitors

Medically reviewed by Philip Thornton, DipPharm. Last updated on Dec 4, 2024.

What is carfilzomib?

Carfilzomib is a type of chemotherapy drug called a proteasome inhibitor. It is used alone or in combination with other medications to treat a blood cancer called multiple myeloma.

People with multiple myeloma have abnormal plasma cells, which are a type of white blood cell found in your bone marrow that secrete antibodies (immunoglobulins). These antibodies are protective proteins that help fight infection. When plasma cells become cancerous they grow out of control and make an abnormal antibody.

Carfilzomib works by inhibiting the growth of myeloma cells and encouraging them to self-destruct. Myeloma cells use proteasomes to break down proteins within them. Carfilzomib blocks the action of proteasomes, causing the proteins to build up inside the cells and the cells to die.

Carfilzomib was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2012. It is a second generation proteasome inhibitor that was designed to overcome toxicity and resistance issues that some patients experienced with an older proteasome inhibitor called bortezomib (Velcade). Carfilzomib is available under the brand name Kyprolis. A generic version is also available.

What is carfilzomib used for?

Carfilzomib is a prescription medication used to treat adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received one to three previous treatments for multiple myeloma in combination with:

Carfilzomib is also approved for use as a single agent for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received one or more lines of therapy.

Important information

Carfilzomib can cause serious side effects:

Contact your doctor straight away if you experience any of the following while taking carfilzomib:

Who should not receive carfilzomib?

Do not receive carfilzomib if you are allergic to carfilzomib or any of the ingredients in it. See below for a complete list of ingredients.

Patients taking melphalan and prednisone should not receive carfilzomib. Newly diagnosed transplant ineligible multiple myeloma patients have shown an increased risk of serious and fatal side effects when using carfilzomib in combination with melphalan and prednisone.

What should I tell my doctor before receiving carfilzomib?

Before you receive carfilzomib, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions.

How should I receive carfilzomib?

What happens if I miss a dose?

If you miss a scheduled treatment of carfilzomib contact your healthcare provider for advice.

What should I avoid while receiving carfilzomib?

Dosing information

The recommended dose of carfilzomib varies depending on your treatment regimen. See table below.

Regimen Dosage Infusion time
(minutes)
  • Carfilzomib and dexamethasone
  • Carfilzomib, daratumumab and dexamethasone
  • Daratumumab, hyaluronidase-fihj and dexamethsone
20/70 mg/m2 once weekly 30
  • Carfilzomib and dexamethasone
  • Carfilzomib, daratumumab and dexamethasone
  • Daratumumab, hyaluronidase-fihj and dexamethsone
  • Carfilzomib alone
20/56 mg/m2 twice weekly 30
  • Carfilzomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone
  • Carfilzomib alone
20/27 mg/m2 twice weekly 10

See full prescribing information for further information about carfilzomib dosing.

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

What are the side effects of carfilzomib?

Carfilzomib can cause serious side effects including:

The most common side effects occurring in at least 20 percent of patients receiving carfilzomib in the combination therapy trials are:

The most common side effects occurring in at least 20 percent of patients receiving carfilzomib therapy alone in trials are:

These are not all the possible side effects of carfilzomib. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. Contact your doctor about any side effects that bother you or do not go away.

You may report side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Interactions

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescriptions an over-the-counter medicine, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Talk to your doctor before starting any new medications during treatment with carfilzomib.

Does carfilzomib interact with my other drugs?

Enter medications to view a detailed interaction report using our Drug Interaction Checker.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Carfilzomib can cause harm to a fetus (unborn baby) when given to a pregnant woman. Women should use effective contraception during treatment with carfilzomib and for 6 months following the final dose.

Men should use effective contraception during treatment with carfilzomib and for 3 months following the final dose.

Carfilzomib can cause harm to a fetus if used during pregnancy or if you or your partner become pregnant during treatment with carfilzomib.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed while receiving carfilzomib. and for 2 weeks after the last dose. Talk to you doctor about the best way to feed your baby while receiving carfilzomib.

Storage

What are the ingredients in carfilzomib?

Active ingredients: carfilzomib

Inactive ingredients (Kyprolis brand): betadex sulfobutyl ether sodium, anhydrous citric acid, sodium hydroxide, water

Carfilzomib is manufactured under the brand name Kyprolis by Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. One Amgen Center Drive, Thousands Oaks, CA 91320-1799 U.S.A.

A generic version of carfilzomib is also made by Dr Reddy's.

Popular FAQ

Is Kyprolis a chemo drug and how does it work?

Kyprolis (carfilzomib) is not a chemotherapy drug, it is a proteasome inhibitors, which are targeted therapies for cancer. Kyprolis works by inhibiting proteasomes - a complex of proteases (enzymes), which break down proteins in the body. Continue reading

How is Kyprolis (carfilzomib) administered?

Kyprolis is given as infusion into a vein over 10 to 30 minutes, once or twice a week for 3 weeks then a week with no treatment. This is a 28 days treatment cycle which maybe repeated. Continue reading

Further information

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