Key takeaways

  • Yescarta is a CAR T-cell therapy, a type of gene therapy that modifies a patient’s own white blood cells to fight specific non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas such as large B-cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma.
  • Yescarta treatment involves a one-time intravenous (IV) infusion administered in a specialized center. After the infusion, you will need to remain near the center for at least 2 weeks for monitoring due to potential serious side effects like cytokine release syndrome and nervous system problems.
  • Before receiving Yescarta, you undergo chemotherapy to prepare their body for CAR T-cell therapy. Be sure to discuss your full medical history with your doctor, including any infections or existing health conditions, to ensure safe treatment with Yescarta.

Yescarta is a type of CAR T-cell therapy that uses cells from your own immune system to treat certain kinds of cancer.

Yescarta is a brand-name biologic drug, which means it is made from parts of living organisms. The active ingredient in Yescarta is a drug called axicabtagene ciloleucel. At this time, there is no biosimilar version of Yescarta available.

Yescarta comes as a liquid suspension and is given via IV infusion by a healthcare professional (see “How is Yescarta given?“).

Yescarta is used to treat two types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in adults: large B-cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma.

For large B-cell lymphoma

Yescarta is used to treat Yescarta is used to treat large B-cell lymphoma in adults when:

  • one previous cancer treatment didn’t work, or
  • one previous cancer treatment worked temporarily but the cancer returned within 12 months, or
  • two or more previous treatments didn’t work, or
  • two or more treatments worked temporarily but the cancer came back

For follicular lymphoma

Yescarta is used to treat follicular lymphoma in adults when:

  • two or more previous cancer treatments didn’t work, or
  • two or more previous treatments worked temporarily but the cancer returned

Yescarta is a type of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, or CAR T-cell therapy.

T-cells are a specific type of cell your immune system that recognize and help kill foreign cells that cause diseases, including blood cancers like lymphomas.

Yescarta gives your T-cells the right receptors to bind to large B-cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma cancer cells, so your immune system can destroy them.

You’ll receive Yescarta as a one-time IV infusion. The infusion typically lasts about 30 minutes.

Your doctor will calculate your dose of the drug based on your body weight. To find out your specific dose, ask your doctor.

You’ll receive Yescarta as a one-time intravenous (IV) infusion (an injection into a vein given over time). The infusion typically lasts about 30 minutes. Your doctor will explain the details of how the drug is administered before you receive your infusion. Below is an overview of this procedure.

Yescarta infusion

A healthcare professional will give you your Yescarta infusion in a specialized treatment center.

Your healthcare team will monitor you at the treatment center for at least 7 days after your Yescarta infusion. For at least 2 weeks after your infusion of Yescarta, you should stay within 2 hours of the treatment center. This is so the healthcare professional who gave the infusion can watch for side effects and make sure that Yescarta is working for you.

In addition, you shouldn’t drive a car for at least 2 weeks after your infusion of Yescarta. This is because the drug may temporarily cause dizziness, confusion, and loss of coordination.

It’s also important that you do not donate organs, blood, tissues, or cells after your infusion of Yescarta, as they may contain modified white blood cells from your infusion. Avoid making these donations until your doctor tells you it’s safe to do so.

If you have questions about Yescarta’s administration or your dosage schedule, ask your doctor.

Using Yescarta with other drugs

Before your infusion of Yescarta, you’ll receive chemotherapy. This kind of drug kills the rapidly growing cells in your body, including cancer cells. Chemotherapy helps prepare your body for an infusion of Yescarta.

The chemotherapy drugs you’ll receive with Yescarta are cyclophosphamide and fludarabine. You’ll receive these medications on the fifth, fourth, and third days before your Yescarta infusion.

Then, about 1 hour before your infusion of Yescarta, you’ll receive diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and acetaminophen (Tylenol). These drugs will help lower your risk of side effects from the infusion.

If you have questions about using other drugs with Yescarta, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

The most common side effects (excluding laboratory test abnormalities) of Yescarta treatment in clinical trials included:

This list does not include all possible side effects of Yescarta.

If you have questions about how to pay for your Yescarta treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Also, visit the manufacturer’s Yescarta support webpage for information about financial assistance programs that you might be eligible for.

Here are answers to frequently asked questions about Yescarta.

Yescarta starts working in your body as soon as your infusion begins. But it may take several weeks before your symptoms ease.

If you have specific questions about what to expect with Yescarta treatment, talk with your doctor.

If you miss the appointment to receive your infusion of Yescarta, contact treatment center staff right away. They’ll help you reschedule your appointment.

Yescarta has been shown to be an effective treatment for large B-cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma in many adults.

For information on how Yescarta performed in clinical studies, see the drug’s prescribing information.

Yescarta is a highly individualized treatment and chances of successful treatment with the drug depend on many factors.

To learn more about whether Yescarta is right for you, talk with your doctor.

No, Yescarta is not used to treat acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL).

There are other CAR T-cell therapies available that treat ALL. To learn about treatment options for ALL, talk with your doctor.

When considering treatment with Yescarta, it’s important to discuss a few things with your doctor. These include:

  • other medications you take
  • other medical conditions you have
  • your overall health

These factors and others are described in more detail below.

Interactions

Taking a medication with certain vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the medication works. These effects are called interactions.

Before taking Yescarta, be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you take, including prescription and over-the-counter types. Also describe any vitamins, herbs, or supplements you use. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you about any interactions these items may cause with Yescarta.

For information about drug-condition interactions, see the “Other warnings” section below.

Interactions with drugs or supplements

There currently aren’t any medications or supplements known to interact with Yescarta. But this doesn’t mean drug interactions with Yescarta won’t be recognized in the future. For example, new medications may be approved that interact with Yescarta.

For this reason, you should still tell your doctor and pharmacist about any medications you take besides Yescarta. This way, they can check for any new interactions during your treatment.

Other interactions

It’s possible that Yescarta may interact with live vaccines. (Live vaccines are made from a weakened form of the virus or bacterium the vaccine protects against.)

Examples of live vaccines include:

It isn’t known for certain what effects the drug may have on live vaccines. To be safe, it’s recommended that you avoid getting a live vaccine in the 6 weeks before starting chemotherapy (including the short-term chemotherapy required prior to your Yescarta infusion). And you’ll continue avoiding live vaccines until your immune system has recovered after receiving Yescarta.

Before you receive Yescarta, discuss with your doctor whether your vaccines are up to date. They may have you get certain vaccines you need at least 6 weeks before the chemotherapy that precedes your dose of Yescarta.

Also, after treatment, tell your doctor or pharmacist that you’ve received Yescarta before getting any vaccines. They’ll tell you when it may be safe to receive your vaccine.

Boxed warnings

Yescarta has boxed warnings about the risk of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and nervous system problems. A boxed warning is the strongest warning the FDA requires. It alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.

Because of these risks, it’s important that you stay within 2 hours of the treatment center where you receive Yescarta. You should stay this close to the treatment center for at least 2 weeks after your infusion. This is so the healthcare professional who gave the infusion can watch for side effects and make sure that Yescarta is working for you.

Risk of CRS

Yescarta may cause CRS. This condition happens when cells in the immune system release certain proteins into the blood. This can lead to symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue (low energy), and low blood pressure.

CRS can be life threatening for some people. If you have symptoms of CRS during or after your infusion of Yescarta, tell your doctor right away. They’ll give you treatments for this condition. These include corticosteroids and tocilizumab (Actemra).

Risk of nervous system problems

Yescarta may cause neurotoxicity. This refers to problems with your nervous system, which includes your brain and nerve cells. Examples of nervous system problems you may have with Yescarta include dizziness, headache, insomnia (trouble sleeping), seizures, and encephalopathy (a serious brain condition).

Certain nervous system problems can be life threatening for some people. If you have symptoms of a nervous system problem with Yescarta, tell your doctor right away.

Other warnings

Yescarta can sometimes cause harmful effects in people who have certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect whether Yescarta is a good treatment option for you.

Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Yescarta. Factors to consider include those described below.

Infection, including hepatitis B. Yescarta works by stimulating your immune system. If you have an active infection, your immune system may become overactive. Before receiving Yescarta, tell your doctor if you have an active infection. They’ll treat the infection before treatment with the drug.

Also tell your doctor if you’ve ever had hepatitis B. In people who’ve had this infection, Yescarta may reactivate the virus that causes it, resulting in symptoms of hepatitis B. Your doctor will monitor you for symptoms of virus reactivation after you receive Yescarta.

Kidney, liver, or heart problems. Yescarta may cause side effects that could worsen kidney, liver, or heart problems. Before using Yescarta, be sure to tell your doctor if you have any conditions affecting your kidney, liver or heart.

Lung or breathing problems. Yescarta may cause side effects that could worsen lung or breathing problems. Before using Yescarta, be sure to tell your doctor if you have lung or breathing problems.

Allergic reaction. If you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to any of Yescarta’s ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Yescarta. Ask them what other medications are better options for you.

Yescarta and alcohol

There isn’t a known interaction between Yescarta and alcohol.

But drinking alcohol before or after your Yescarta infusion may worsen certain side effects from the drug. Examples include headache and digestive problems such as nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor before your infusion of Yescarta. They can tell you how much alcohol (if any) is safe to drink before or after your infusion.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Below is important information about using Yescarta while pregnant or breastfeeding.

Yescarta and pregnancy

It’s thought that Yescarta may not be safe to use during pregnancy.

This drug has not been studied in pregnancy. But based on the way Yescara works in the body, it could cause harm to a fetus.

If you’re able to become pregnant, your doctor will give you a pregnancy test before you receive Yescarta. This will help them confirm that you are not pregnant before receiving your infusion.

If you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy, talk with your doctor before your infusion of Yescarta. They’ll likely recommend a different treatment for your condition.

Yescarta and breastfeeding

It’s unclear whether Yescarta is safe to use while breastfeeding. It’s not known if the drug may pass into breast milk or what effects it may have on a child who is breastfed.

If you’re breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before your infusion of Yescarta. They’ll recommend healthy ways to feed your child during treatment.

Yescarta is a CAR T-cell therapy used to treat large B-cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma.

Treatment involves a one-time IV infusion administered by a healthcare professional at a specialized infusion center, after a short-term course of chemotherapy. After the infusion, you will need to remain near the center for at least 2 weeks for monitoring due to potential serious side effects like cytokine release syndrome and nervous system problems.

Note: This is a summary article. for more details about this drug, see Yescarta’s prescribing information or talk with your doctor.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.