What type of drug is Arikayce?

Arikayce (amikacin liposome inhalation suspension) is an aminoglycoside antibiotic

It is FDA-approved to treat Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) bacteria in a limited population of patients who do not respond to conventional treatment. It is used as part of a combination antibacterial drug regimen for MAC.

• Arikayce is an oral suspension inhaled into the lungs once-a-day using a nebulizer. Administer Arikayce with the Lamira Nebulizer System only.
• A Boxed Warning for Arikayce notes an increased risk of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (inflamed lungs), bronchospasm (tightening of the airway), exacerbation of underlying lung disease and hemoptysis (spitting up blood) that have led to hospitalizations in some cases.
• Arikayce was FDA-approved in September 2018 and is manufactured by Insmed.

MAC is a type of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) commonly found in water and soil. Symptoms of disease in patients with MAC include persistent cough, fatigue, weight loss, night sweats, and occasionally shortness of breath and coughing up of blood.