IMFINZI FAQs

Below are some questions you may have about IMFINZI and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Remember, your doctor is the best resource for answering specific questions about your treatment.

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Small cell lung cancer is a type of fast-growing cancer that forms in the tissues of the lung. There are two stages of SCLC: limited-stage SCLC and extensive-stage SCLC.

Limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) is one of the stages of SCLC. It means that the cancer is limited to one lung or one side of the chest.

Learn more about LS-SCLC arrow

Extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) means that the cancer has spread to both lungs or to other parts of the body. Almost 70% of people with SCLC have extensive-stage SCLC when they are diagnosed.

Learn more about ES-SCLC arrow

IMFINZI is an immunotherapy treatment for adults with:

  • Limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) following chemotherapy and radiation therapy given together (cCRT), if their disease has not progressed
  • Previously untreated extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) together with chemotherapy*

See the clinical trial results for LS-SCLC with IMFINZI following cCRT arrow

See the clinical trial results for ES-SCLC with IMFINZI + chemotherapy* arrow

*Etoposide and either carboplatin or cisplatin.

Immunotherapy is a type of treatment that works with your immune system to find and attack cancer. IMFINZI is an immunotherapy, and may also affect healthy cells. Ask your doctor if an immunotherapy treatment is right for you.

Chemotherapy attacks all fast-growing cells, including cancer cells. Immunotherapy works with the immune system to find and attack cancer. IMFINZI and chemotherapy may also affect normal cells.

See how IMFINZI and chemotherapy work together arrow

IMFINZI is an immunotherapy. It is a type of treatment that works with your immune system to find and attack cancer. IMFINZI may also affect healthy cells.

See how IMFINZI works together with other treatments arrow

For limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC), IMFINZI may be used after chemotherapy and radiation therapy given together (cCRT). cCRT is a standard treatment for LS-SCLC. cCRT attacks fast-growing cells. As the first immunotherapy that treats LS-SCLC, IMFINZI can help continue to fight LS-SCLC after cCRT treatment is complete if your disease has not progressed.

See how IMFINZI works arrow

IMFINZI and chemotherapy* are given together to help fight previously untreated ES-SCLC. Chemotherapy attacks fast-growing cells, so that immunotherapy can more readily attack the cancer. IMFINZI and chemotherapy* may also affect normal cells.

See how IMFINZI works arrow

People will receive IMFINZI in different ways, depending on their stage of SCLC. Learn more about what to expect for your specific cancer stage by clicking on one of the links below.

See how IMFINZI is given for LS-SCLC arrow

See how IMFINZI is given for ES-SCLC arrow

While on IMFINZI, you may experience side effects. This is because IMFINZI can cause your immune system to attack normal organs and tissues and can affect the way they work. These problems can sometimes become serious or life-threatening and can lead to death.

IMFINZI may also cause serious side effects. They include:

  • Lung problems
  • Intestinal problems
  • Liver problems
  • Hormone gland problems
  • Kidney problems
  • Skin problems
  • Pancreas problems
  • Problems in other organs
  • Severe infusion reactions
  • Rejection of a transplanted organ or tissue
  • Complications, including graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), in people who have received a bone marrow (stem cell) transplant that uses donor stem cells (allogeneic)

Getting medical treatment right away may help keep these problems from becoming more serious. Your healthcare provider will check you for these problems during your treatment with IMFINZI. Your healthcare provider may treat you with corticosteroid or hormone replacement medicines. Your healthcare provider may also need to delay or completely stop treatment with IMFINZI if you have severe side effects

The most common side effects of IMFINZI when used alone in adults with limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) include:

  • Inflammation in the lungs
  • Feeling tired or weak

The most common side effects of IMFINZI when used with etoposide and either carboplatin or cisplatin in adults with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) include:

  • Nausea
  • Feeling tired or weak
  • Hair loss

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

These are not all of the possible side effects of IMFINZI.

Please see full Important Safety Information below and Full Prescribing Information including Medication Guide for IMFINZI.

There are a variety of resources to provide you with treatment access and financial support.

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Important Safety Information

What is the most important information I should know about IMFINZI® (durvalumab)?

IMFINZI is a medicine that may treat certain cancers by working with your immune system. IMFINZI can cause your immune system to attack normal organs and tissues in any area of your body and can affect the way they work. These problems can sometimes become severe or life-threatening and can lead to death. You can have more than one of these problems at the same time. These problems may happen anytime during treatment or even after your treatment has ended.

Call or see your healthcare provider right away if you develop any new or worsening signs or symptoms, including:

What is IMFINZI?

IMFINZI is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with a type of lung cancer called SCLC.

  • IMFINZI may be used alone when your LS-SCLC cannot be removed by surgery and has responded or stabilized after initial treatment with chemotherapy that contains platinum, given at the same time as radiation therapy.
  • IMFINZI may be used with the chemotherapy medicines etoposide and either carboplatin or cisplatin as your first treatment when your SCLC has spread within your lungs or to other parts of the body (extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, or ES-SCLC).

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

  • SCLC Lung Problems Icon

    Lung problems: cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain

  • SCLC Intestinal Problems Icon

    Intestinal problems: diarrhea (loose stools) or more frequent bowel movements than usual; stools that are black, tarry, sticky, or have blood or mucus; and severe stomach-area (abdomen) pain or tenderness

  • SCLC Liver Problems Icon

    Liver problems: yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes, severe nausea or vomiting, pain on the right side of your stomach area (abdomen), dark urine (tea colored), and bleeding or bruising more easily than normal

  • SCLC Hormone Gland Problems Icon

    Hormone gland problems: headaches that will not go away or unusual headaches; eye sensitivity to light; eye problems; rapid heartbeat; increased sweating; extreme tiredness; weight gain or weight loss; feeling more hungry or thirsty than usual; urinating more often than usual; hair loss; feeling cold; constipation; your voice gets deeper; dizziness or fainting; and changes in mood or behavior, such as decreased sex drive, irritability, or forgetfulness

  • SCLC Kidney Problems Icon

    Kidney problems: decrease in your amount of urine, blood in your urine, swelling of your ankles, and loss of appetite

  • SCLC Skin Problems Icon

    Skin problems: rash; itching; skin blistering or peeling; painful sores or ulcers in mouth or nose, throat, or genital area; fever or flu-like symptoms; and swollen lymph nodes

  • SCLC Pancreas Problems Icon

    Pancreas problems: pain in your upper stomach area (abdomen), severe nausea or vomiting, and loss of appetite

  • SCLC Other Organ Problems Icon

    Problems can also happen in other organs and tissues. These are not all of the signs and symptoms of immune system problems that can happen with IMFINZI. Call or see your healthcare provider right away for any new or worsening signs or symptoms, which may include: Chest pain, irregular heartbeats, shortness of breath or swelling of ankles; confusion, sleepiness, memory problems, changes in mood or behavior, stiff neck, balance problems; tingling, numbness or weakness of the arms or legs; double vision, blurry vision, sensitivity to light, eye pain, changes in eye sight; persistent or severe muscle pain or weakness, muscle cramps, joint pain, joint stiffness or swelling; and low red blood cells and bruising

  • SCLC Severe Infusion Reactions Icon

    Infusion reactions that can sometimes be severe or life-threatening. Signs and symptoms of infusion reactions may include: chills or shaking, itching or rash, flushing, shortness of breath or wheezing, dizziness, feel like passing out, fever, and back or neck pain

  • SCLC Transplant Rejection Icon

    Rejection of a transplanted organ or tissue. Your healthcare provider should tell you what signs and symptoms you should report and monitor you depending on the type of organ or tissue transplant that you have had

  • SCLC Transplant Complications Icon

    Complications, including graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), in people who have received a bone marrow (stem cell) transplant that uses donor stem cells (allogeneic). These complications can be serious and can lead to death. These complications may happen if you underwent transplantation either before or after being treated with IMFINZI. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for these complications

Getting medical treatment right away may help keep these problems from becoming more serious. Your healthcare provider will check you for these problems during your treatment with IMFINZI. Your healthcare provider may treat you with corticosteroid or hormone replacement medicines. Your healthcare provider may also need to delay or completely stop treatment with IMFINZI if you have severe side effects

Before you receive IMFINZI, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

  • have immune system problems such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or lupus
  • have received an organ or tissue transplant, including corneal transplant
  • have received or plan to receive a stem cell transplant that uses donor stem cells (allogeneic)
  • have received radiation treatment to your chest area
  • have a condition that affects your nervous system, such as myasthenia gravis or Guillain-Barré syndrome
  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. IMFINZI can harm your unborn baby    

    • Females who are able to become pregnant:

    • Your healthcare provider will give you a pregnancy test before you start treatment with IMFINZI.
    • You should use an effective method of birth control during your treatment and for 3 months after the last dose of IMFINZI. Talk to your healthcare provider about birth control methods that you can use during this time.
    • Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment with IMFINZI.
  • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if IMFINZI passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for 3 months after the last dose of IMFINZI.

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

What are the possible side effects of IMFINZI?

IMFINZI can cause serious side effects (see above).

The most common side effects of IMFINZI when used alone in adults with limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) include inflammation in the lungs and feeling tired or weak.

The most common side effects of IMFINZI when used with etoposide and either carboplatin or cisplatin in adults with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) include nausea, feeling tired or weak, and hair loss.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of IMFINZI. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects related to AstraZeneca productsReport side effects related to AstraZeneca products. If you prefer to report these to the FDA, either visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see Full Prescribing Information including Medication Guide for IMFINZI.

What is IMFINZI?

IMFINZI is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with a type of lung cancer called small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

  • IMFINZI may be used alone when your LS-SCLC cannot be removed by surgery and has responded or stabilized after initial treatment with chemotherapy that contains platinum, given at the same time as radiation therapy.
  • IMFINZI may be used with the chemotherapy medicines etoposide and either carboplatin or cisplatin as your first treatment when your SCLC has spread within your lungs or to other parts of the body (extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, or ES-SCLC).

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

Please see Full Prescribing Information including Medication Guide for IMFINZI.

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Important Safety Information

What is the most important information I should know about IMFINZI® (durvalumab)?

IMFINZI is a medicine that may treat certain cancers by working with your immune system. IMFINZI can cause your immune system to attack normal organs and tissues in...

IMFINZI is a medicine that may treat certain cancers by working with your immune system. IMFINZI can cause your immune system to...

Read full Important Safety Information

What is IMFINZI?

IMFINZI is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with a type of lung cancer called SCLC.

  • IMFINZI may be used alone when your LS-SCLC cannot be removed by surgery and has responded or stabilized after initial treatment with chemotherapy that contains platinum, given at the same time as radiation therapy...

United States flag iconThis product information is intended for US consumers only.

IMFINZI is a registered trademark and AstraZeneca Access 360 is a trademark of the AstraZeneca group of companies.

©2025 AstraZeneca. All rights reserved. US-91740; US-106883 Last Updated 12/25

United States flag iconThis product information is intended for US consumers only.

IMFINZI is a registered trademark and AstraZeneca Access 360 is a trademark of the AstraZeneca group of companies.

©2025 AstraZeneca. All rights reserved. US-91740; US-106883 Last Updated 12/25