For adults with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) in combination with chemotherapy. See full indication »

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IMFINZI FAQs

Facing questions about ES-SCLC and IMFINZI?

Getting a lung cancer diagnosis and starting a new treatment can be overwhelming. You may have a lot of questions. Here are answers to some questions you may have about IMFINZI and lung cancer. Remember, your doctor is the best resource for answering specific questions about your treatment.

Click on the + to view answers to frequently asked questions.

ABOUT IMFINZI FOR ES-SCLC

What is extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC)?

ES-SCLC is an aggressive type of lung cancer that has spread to both lungs or to other parts of the body. It is the most common type of SCLC. Almost 70% of people with SCLC have the extensive stage form when they are diagnosed.

Learn more about ES-SCLC

What is IMFINZI?

IMFINZI is an immunotherapy treatment for adults with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) in combination with chemotherapy.

See the clinical trial results for IMFINZI + chemotherapy.

What is immunotherapy?

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

What is the difference between immunotherapy and chemotherapy?

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

How does IMFINZI work?

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. IMFINZI and chemotherapy work together to treat extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC).

See how IMFINZI works

Why is IMFINZI taken with chemotherapy?

IMFINZI and chemotherapy are combined to help fight 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

How will I receive IMFINZI?

IMFINZI is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion at your doctor’s office, the hospital, or infusion center. While your infusion times may vary, it usually takes about 60 minutes to get an IMFINZI infusion.

See the IMFINZI infusion schedule

How is IMFINZI given?

Treatment with IMFINZI is given in 2 phases:

  • Phase 1: You’ll start with IMFINZI and chemotherapy. IMFINZI will be given to you first. After this initial IMFINZI infusion, you’ll then receive a combination of 2 chemotherapy medications: etoposide and either carboplatin or cisplatin, depending on the type of chemotherapy your doctor has decided is best for you. You will receive IMFINZI + chemotherapy every 3 weeks for 3 months. Your doctor will test your blood for certain side effects
  • Phase 2: You’ll continue with just IMFINZI. After you finish chemotherapy, you’ll receive IMFINZI by itself once a month for as long as your doctor recommends

Remember that every person is different. Talk to your doctor about how many treatments may be right for you.

See the IMFINZI infusion schedule

What are the potential side effects of IMFINZI?

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
  • Liver problems
  • Intestinal problems
  • Hormone gland problems
  • Kidney problems
  • Skin problems
  • Problems in other organs
  • Severe infections
  • Severe infusion reactions

The most common side effects of IMFINZI when used with other anticancer medicines with SCLC include:

  • Nausea
  • Hair loss
  • Feeling tired or weak

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 Important Safety Information below and complete Prescribing Information.

What support is available to me?

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

See Support and Resources

See how IMFINZI + chemotherapy works to help fight ES-SCLC

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Important Safety Information

What is the most important information I should know about IMFINZI?

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.

What is IMFINZI?IMFINZI® (durvalumab) SCLC page logo

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 with the chemotherapy medicines etoposide and 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.

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

  • Lung problems icon

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

  • 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

  • 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

  • Hormone gland problems icon

    Hormone gland problems: headaches that will not go away or unusual headaches; eye sensitivity to light; eye problems; rapid heartbeat; increase sweating; extreme tiredness; weight gain or weight loss; feeling more hungry or thirsty than usual; fast and deep breathing; sweet smell to your breath; sweet or metallic taste in your mouth; different odor to your urine or sweat; 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

  • Kidney problems icon

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

  • 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; swollen lymph nodes

  • 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 or numbness 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; and low red blood cells, bruising

  • 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

  • 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 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

    • You should use an effective method of birth control during your treatment and for at least 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 at least 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 when used with other anticancer medicines with SCLC include nausea, hair loss, and feeling tired or weak.

Tell your doctor 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 products by clicking here. If you prefer to report these to the FDA, either visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is IMFINZI?IMFINZI® (durvalumab) SCLC page logo

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 with the chemotherapy medicines etoposide and 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 click here for complete Prescribing Information, including Patient Information (Medication Guide).

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Important Safety Information +

What is the most important information I should know about IMFINZI?

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.

What is IMFINZI?IMFINZI® (durvalumab) SCLC page logo

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 with the chemotherapy medicines etoposide and 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.