Pronunciation: tav' nee ose
Generic name: avacopan
Dosage form: capsules (10mg)
Drug class: Selective immunosuppressants

Medically reviewed by Melisa Puckey, BPharm. Last updated on Apr 18, 2024.

What is Tavneos?

Tavneos is a medicine used to treat severe, active granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) as an add-on treatment with other medicines, such as glucocorticoids. Tavneos is thought to help reduce inflammation of blood vessels which may improve symptoms.

GPA (previously called Wegener’s granulomatosis) and MPA are rare autoimmune disorders that cause inflammation and damage to blood vessels. This type of blood vessel damage is called anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis. 

Tavneos is from a group of medicines called complement 5a receptor (C5aR) antagonists. 

Tavneos (avacopan) received FDA approval in October, 2021, for adjunctive treatment of adult patients with severe active anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (granulomatosis with polyangiitis [GPA] and microscopic polyangiitis [MPA]) in combination with standard therapy including glucocorticoids. Avacopan is a complement 5a receptor (C5aR) antagonist. 

Tavneos side effects

Common Tavneos side effects

Common Tavneos side effects may include tiredness, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, rash, headache, dizziness, severe headache, blurred vision, pounding in your neck or ears, burning or prickling sensation, and an increase in blood creatinine.

Serious Tavneos side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction, including hives, difficulty breathing, and swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to the active ingredient avacopan or any of the other ingredients.

These tablets may cause other serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

• signs of liver problems - loss of appetite, pain or swelling in your stomach, swelling in your legs, easy bleeding, drowsiness, confusion, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
• signs of serious infections - fever, cold symptoms (runny nose or sore throat), flu symptoms (cough, tiredness, and body aches), earache or headache, painful urination, cold sores in mouth or throat.

Also, see Warning section.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Warnings

Tavneos may cause serious side effects, including liver problems. Call your doctor at once if you have loss of appetite, pain or swelling in your stomach, swelling in your legs, easy bleeding, drowsiness, confusion, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check your liver is working before starting and during your treatment with this medicine.

Before taking Tavneos

Before you start treatment, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions including if you:

• have or have had abnormal liver blood tests.
• have or have had liver problems.
• have or think you may have hepatitis B or hepatitis C.
• have an infection.

Pregnancy

Talk to your healthcare provider if you are pregnant, are planning a pregnancy or become pregnant as it is not known if this medicine will harm your unborn baby. 

Breastfeeding 

Talk to your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if this medicine can pass into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you take Tavneos.

What other drugs will affect Tavneos?

Tell your healthcare provider about all the other medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Tavneos and certain other medicines may affect each other and cause side effects. Keep a list of the medicines you take and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.

• Some medicines should not be taken with Tavneos.
• Your healthcare provider may prescribe other medicines to treat your disease.

How should I take Tavneos?

Take Tavneos capsules twice a day (morning and evening) with food.

Swallow the capsule whole and do not crush, chew, break, or open it.

• Take this mediicne exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. Do not stop treatment unless your healthcare provider tells you to.
• Check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure.
• Take 3 capsules 2 times daily (morning and evening) with food.
• Your healthcare provider may tell you to take 3 capsules of Tavneos 1 time each day if you take certain medicines. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take.
• Swallow the capsules whole with water. Do not crush, chew or open the capsules.
• If you miss a dose, do not take the missed dose. Just take the next dose at your regular time.
• If you have taken too much or overdose, call your doctor or a Poison Control Center, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.

Dosing information

Usual Adult Tavneos Dose for ANCA-Associated Vasculitis is 30 mg (three 10 mg capsules) twice daily, with food.

Use: adjunctive treatment of adult patients with severe active anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (granulomatosis with polyangiitis [GPA] and microscopic polyangiitis [MPA]) in combination with standard therapy including glucocorticoids. Tavneos does not eliminate glucocorticoid use.

How should I store Tavneos?

Store capsules at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C).

Keep all medicines out of reach of children and pets.

What are the ingredients in Tavneos?

Active ingredient: avacopan
Inactive ingredients: Polyethylene glycol 4000 (PEG-4000), Polyoxyl-40 hydrogenated castor oil.

Company 

Manufactured for ChemoCentryx, Inc. by: Thermo Fisher Scientific, 2110 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45237 USA.

Further information

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

Medical Disclaimer