Metastatic Breast Cancer Treatment Drug: ABRAXANE for Injectable Suspension

ABRAXANE for Injectable Suspension
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Patient Assistance


Black Box Warning

ABRAXANE is a prescription medicine used to treat breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body after treatment with certain other medicines has not worked.

ABRAXANE for Injectable Suspension (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) (albumin bound) is indicated for the treatment of breast cancer after failure of combination chemotherapy for metastatic disease or relapse within 6 months of adjuvant chemotherapy. Prior therapy should have included an anthracycline unless clinically contraindicated.




ARC of Support: Abraxis Oncology Resource Center

Abraxis Oncology provides assistance with the insurance and payment process through a dedicated program called ARC of Support™. This program is available through your health care team to help you get the most out of your insurance coverage.

Our specially trained professionals can assist your health care team with reimbursement, disputing claims, and verifying benefits on your behalf. Trained health care professionals are available to assist you Monday through Friday with answers and guidance on a range of topics related to ABRAXANE®.

In addition, eligible patients may qualify for the Abraxis Oncology Patient Access Program (APAP). This program offers assistance to both uninsured and insured patients based on financial need. To qualify, patients who have been prescribed ABRAXANE must meet the eligibility criteria, which are based on your diagnosis, residency, and income.

Please talk to your health care team if you need assistance with reimbursement for ABRAXANE.

 

ARC of Support is designed to assist you with:

Information

  • Safety and efficacy information about ABRAXANE
  • Benefit verification and coverage information

Service

  • Assistance for patients who cannot afford ABRAXANE

Support

  • Reimbursement Services Representatives
  • Trained health care professionals
  • Live operators

 

 

The ARC of Support Hotline Provides Options

The ARC of Support Hotline is easy to use. Just call us at 1-800-564-0216. Select from the following patient options.

Medical Information: Press 2

You can get drug and medical information from trained health care professionals. They are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM Eastern Time.

Reimbursement Support: Press 3

The reimbursement process can be confusing and time-consuming. The ARC of Support Reimbursement Services Representatives are specially trained to provide assistance for product-related reimbursement issues such as benefit verification and coverage information. Reimbursement support is available Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Eastern Time.

Abraxis Oncology Patient Access Program (APAP): Press 3

If you are a patient receiving treatment with ABRAXANE and you meet the eligibility requirements, assistance is available. Call Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Eastern Time, to find out if you qualify.

Live Operator: Press 7

You can speak to an operator who will help direct your call. They are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM Eastern Time.

 

Download Arc of Support Brochure To view the downloads, you need Adobe® Acrobat® Reader® installed. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer, you can download it here.

 

Important Safety Information & Boxed Warning

ABRAXANE for Injectable Suspension (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) (albumin-bound) should be given under the care of a doctor experienced with cancer therapy in a health care facility that is capable of managing possible complications.

ABRAXANE should not be given to patients who have dangerously low white blood counts because of the risk for serious infections. Frequent blood tests are used to check white blood cell count during therapy with ABRAXANE.

An albumin form of paclitaxel may behave differently in the body than other paclitaxel medications. ABRAXANE SHOULD NOT BE SUBSTITUTED FOR OR WITH OTHER PACLITAXEL FORMULATIONS.

Important Safety Information

One of the more important side effects associated with chemotherapy is a decrease in the number of infection-fighting white blood cells (neutrophils) called “neutropenia”. ABRAXANE should not be given to patients with dangerously low white blood cell counts because of the risk for serious infections. Your doctor will schedule blood tests to check your white blood cell count (absolute neutrophil count (ANC)) during therapy with ABRAXANE. Tell your doctor if you have a fever or notice any other signs of an infection.

Women should avoid becoming pregnant while being treated with ABRAXANE. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, if you become pregnant, or you plan to become pregnant while taking ABRAXANE. Nursing a baby while taking ABRAXANE is not recommended because the drug may be present in breast milk. Men should be advised not to father a child while receiving treatment with ABRAXANE.

ABRAXANE contains albumin (human), a derivative of human blood.

The most important side effects have included hair loss, infections due to low white blood cell count, numbness, tingling or burning in the hands or feet, fatigue and weakness, low red blood cell count, mouth or lip sores, joint and muscle pain, stomach upset and diarrhea, heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) effects and irritation at the injection site.

Numbness, tingling, or burning in the hands and feet (neuropathy) occurs with ABRAXANE and other paclitaxel medications. Be sure to tell your doctor if you experience these symptoms. Your doctor may interrupt treatment and restart at a lower dose after symptoms improve.

Other side effects have included blurred vision or eye irritation, fluid retention, liver and kidney dysfunction, low platelet counts, and allergic reactions (which in rare cases were severe). Tell your doctor about any side effects that bother you.

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

The information on this site is intended for US residents only.

ABRAXANE is a registered
trademark of Abraxis BioScience, LLC.
Abraxis Oncology® is a division
of Abraxis BioScience, LLC.

All Abraxis BioScience, LLC.
corporate names, names of services,
and names of products referred to herein
are trade names, service marks, and/or
trademarks that are owned by or licensed
to Abraxis BioScience, its divisions or its
affiliates, unless otherwise noted.

© 2009 Abraxis BioScience, LLC.
All Rights Reserved. AO 1172    2/09

Abraxis

Important Safety Information & Boxed Warning

ABRAXANE for Injectable Suspension (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) (albumin-bound) should be given under the care of a doctor experienced with cancer therapy in a health care facility that is capable of managing possible complications.

ABRAXANE should not be given to patients who have dangerously low white blood counts because of the risk for serious infections. Frequent blood tests are used to check white blood cell count during therapy with ABRAXANE.

An albumin form of paclitaxel may behave differently in the body than other paclitaxel medications. ABRAXANE SHOULD NOT BE SUBSTITUTED FOR OR WITH OTHER PACLITAXEL FORMULATIONS.

Important Safety Information

One of the more important side effects associated with chemotherapy is a decrease in the number of infection-fighting white blood cells (neutrophils) called “neutropenia”. ABRAXANE should not be given to patients with dangerously low white blood cell counts because of the risk for serious infections. Your doctor will schedule blood tests to check your white blood cell count (absolute neutrophil count (ANC)) during therapy with ABRAXANE. Tell your doctor if you have a fever or notice any other signs of an infection.

Women should avoid becoming pregnant while being treated with ABRAXANE. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, if you become pregnant, or you plan to become pregnant while taking ABRAXANE. Nursing a baby while taking ABRAXANE is not recommended because the drug may be present in breast milk. Men should be advised not to father a child while receiving treatment with ABRAXANE.

ABRAXANE contains albumin (human), a derivative of human blood.

The most important side effects have included hair loss, infections due to low white blood cell count, numbness, tingling or burning in the hands or feet, fatigue and weakness, low red blood cell count, mouth or lip sores, joint and muscle pain, stomach upset and diarrhea, heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) effects and irritation at the injection site.

Numbness, tingling, or burning in the hands and feet (neuropathy) occurs with ABRAXANE and other paclitaxel medications. Be sure to tell your doctor if you experience these symptoms. Your doctor may interrupt treatment and restart at a lower dose after symptoms improve.

Other side effects have included blurred vision or eye irritation, fluid retention, liver and kidney dysfunction, low platelet counts, and allergic reactions (which in rare cases were severe). Tell your doctor about any side effects that bother you.

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

The information on this site is intended for US residents only.

ABRAXANE is a registered trademark of Abraxis BioScience, LLC. Abraxis Oncology® is a division of Abraxis BioScience, LLC.

All Abraxis BioScience, LLC. corporate names, names of services, and names of products referred to herein are trade names, service marks, and/or trademarks that are owned by or licensed to Abraxis BioScience, its divisions or its affiliates, unless otherwise noted.

© 2009 Abraxis BioScience, LLC.
All Rights Reserved. AO 1172    2/09
(Site updated 01/09)

Abraxis