Uplizna is an IV infusion medicine used for NMOSD. Contraindications are
- a history of a life-threatening infusion reaction to UPLIZNA
- an active hepatitis B virus infection
- active or untreated inactive (latent) tuberculosis
Side effects:
- Infection like UTI
- Decrease in blood cell counts
Precautions
- Immunoglobulin levels
- Monitor the level of immunoglobulins at the beginning, during, and after discontinuation of treatment with UPLIZNA until B-cell repletion. Consider discontinuing UPLIZNA if a patient develops a serious opportunistic infection or recurrent infections if immunoglobulin levels indicate immune compromise.
Uplizna's mechanism of action is targeting CD19-expressing B cells, a central driver of NMOSD activity. It depletes CD19 pos B cells. [Uplinza website]