Cinqair Injection: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Cinqair Injection (reslizumab) is a prescription biologic from the interleukin-5 (IL-5) antagonist monoclonal antibody class, given as an IV infusion. It is used along with other asthma medicines to treat severe eosinophilic asthma in adults and is not used for sudden asthma attacks. It works by blocking IL-5 to lower eosinophil levels and reduce airway inflammation, and it is given once every four weeks in a doctor's office or clinic.

What is Cinqair Injection

Cinqair is a brand-name prescription biologic medicine given as an IV infusion. It's used along with other asthma medicines to treat severe eosinophilic asthma in adults. Cinqair is not used to treat sudden asthma attacks.

Cinqair Injection uses

• Add-on maintenance treatment of severe asthma in people aged 18 and older who have an eosinophilic phenotype (high levels of a white blood cell called eosinophils)

Benefits of Cinqair Injection

• Helps prevent severe asthma attacks (exacerbations)
• Can improve breathing when added to other asthma medicines
• Reduces blood eosinophil levels, a type of white blood cell linked to asthma inflammation

How Cinqair Injection works

Cinqair blocks a substance called interleukin-5 (IL-5) that tells the body to make more eosinophils, a type of white blood cell that causes airway swelling in this type of asthma. By blocking IL-5, Cinqair lowers eosinophil levels and reduces lung inflammation.

Cinqair Injection dosage

Cinqair is given only as an intravenous (IV) infusion by a healthcare provider in a doctor's office or clinic — it cannot be taken as a pill or inhaler. Each infusion is given slowly over about 20 to 50 minutes, once every four weeks on a regular schedule.

Cinqair must be used in addition to your other asthma medicines, not in place of them. Do not stop taking your corticosteroid or other asthma medicines unless your doctor tells you to. Cinqair is not meant to treat sudden asthma attacks — you must keep a rescue inhaler with you at all times. Your healthcare provider will watch you during and for a period after the infusion to check for allergic reactions.

Available forms and strengths

• Injection

Side effects of Cinqair Injection

Common

• Headache
• Sore throat
• Muscle pain
• Fatigue
• Allergic reactions

Serious

• Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)
• Cancer (malignancy)
• Elevated creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and muscle-related reactions

Warnings and precautions

• Cinqair carries the FDA's most serious warning because it can cause a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. This can happen as early as the second dose, and you'll be watched by a healthcare provider during and after your infusion.
• Cinqair should not be used to treat sudden asthma symptoms or asthma attacks. Keep using a rescue inhaler for sudden breathing problems.
• Cancer (malignancy) occurred more often in people taking Cinqair than those taking a placebo in clinical studies, though it's unclear if Cinqair itself raises cancer risk.
• Don't stop taking your oral or inhaled corticosteroids suddenly when starting Cinqair. Any reduction in corticosteroid dose should be done gradually and under your doctor's supervision.
• If you have a parasitic worm (helminth) infection, it needs to be treated before you start Cinqair. Tell your doctor if you develop this type of infection while on treatment.
• It isn't known for certain whether Cinqair is safe during pregnancy. The drug does cross the placenta to the baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant so they can discuss the risks and benefits with you.
• It isn't known whether Cinqair passes into human breast milk or how it might affect a nursing baby. Talk with your doctor about the benefits and risks before breastfeeding while using Cinqair.
• Studies suggest kidney function does not significantly change how the body processes Cinqair, but no dedicated studies on kidney impairment were done.
• Studies suggest liver function does not significantly change how the body processes Cinqair, but no dedicated studies on liver impairment were done.
• There are no known interactions between Cinqair and alcohol, but alcohol (especially wine, cider, and beer) can trigger asthma flare-ups in some people. Talk with your doctor about how much alcohol is safe for you.

Storage

• Refrigerate at 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C)
• Do not freeze
• Do not shake
• Store in the original package to protect it from light until time of use

When to see a doctor

• Get medical help right away if you have signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as trouble breathing, swelling of the face, lips, mouth, or tongue, hives, rash, itching, dizziness, fainting, fast heartbeat, or stomach pain.
• Seek medical advice if your asthma remains uncontrolled or gets worse after you start Cinqair, since it does not treat sudden breathing problems.
• If you think you're having a severe allergic or anaphylactic reaction and you're not at a healthcare facility, get emergency help immediately, then let your doctor know afterward.

Alternatives

• Xolair
• Fasenra
• Nucala