Metastatic Breast Cancer Treatment Drug: ABRAXANE for Injectable Suspension

ABRAXANE for Injectable Suspension
  • Patient Assistance
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Patient Assistance


Black Box Warning

ABRAXANE for Injectable Suspension 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

ARC of Support Brochure
  • Reimbursement Services Representatives
  • Trained health care professionals
  • Live operators

Want to learn more about ARC of Support?

Download the ARC of Support brochure Download Arc of Support Brochure

 

 

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

You should receive ABRAXANE for Injectable Suspension (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) under the care of a doctor who is trained to use cancer drugs. Because you may have side effects from your treatment, you should get this medicine in a clinic or hospital with doctors, nurses, and pharmacists who are trained to give cancer drugs.

ABRAXANE therapy should not be given to patients with metastatic breast cancer who have low blood counts. Low blood counts, especially low white blood cell counts, may make you more likely to get an infection. In order to check for low blood counts your doctor may need to take some blood to test your blood counts.

Note: ABRAXANE is paclitaxel made with the human blood protein albumin. This makes it behave differently in the body than regular paclitaxel. DO NOT SUBSTITUTE FOR OR WITH OTHER PACLITAXEL DRUGS.

Important Safety Information

One of the more important side effects associated with chemotherapy is neutropenia, which is a decrease in the number of infection-fighting white blood cells (neutrophils). Normal levels range from approximately 1,500 cells/mm3 to 1,800 cells/mm3 (but vary according to several factors, such as age and race). If levels fall below 500 cells/mm3, your risk of developing an infection increases and treatment may be interrupted. To avoid the risk of serious infection and fever, your doctor will monitor your absolute neutrophil count (ANC) during therapy.

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. Discuss with your doctor how ABRAXANE may affect fertility. Nursing a baby while taking ABRAXANE is not recommended because the drug may be present in breast milk

The most important adverse events included lower white and red blood cell counts, infections, tingling and numbness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle and joint aches, and mouth sores. Other adverse reactions included weakness, visual disturbances, fluid retention, hair loss, and liver and kidney dysfunction. Low platelet counts, allergic reactions (which in rare cases were severe), cardiovascular reactions, and injection site reactions were uncommon.

Sensory neuropathy (numbness, tingling, or burning in the hands and feet) can occur with ABRAXANE and other paclitaxel medications. Severe sensory neuropathy can improve with proper management, as prescribed by your doctor. You should tell your nurse or doctor if you experience numbness, tingling, or burning in your hands or feet while taking ABRAXANE.

Please talk to your doctor or nurse if you have questions regarding the potential side effects of ABRAXANE therapy. You may want to review the Product Information, including Warnings, Precautions, and Contraindications.

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.

©2008 Abraxis BioScience, LLC.
and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP.
All Rights Reserved. AO 853/261222  4/08

ABRAXANE is marketed under a
co-promotion agreement between
Abraxis BioScience, LLC. and AstraZeneca.

Abraxis
AstraZeneca

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.

Important Safety Information & Boxed Warning

You should receive ABRAXANE for Injectable Suspension (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) under the care of a doctor who is trained to use cancer drugs. Because you may have side effects from your treatment, you should get this medicine in a clinic or hospital with doctors, nurses, and pharmacists who are trained to give cancer drugs.

ABRAXANE therapy should not be given to patients with metastatic breast cancer who have low blood counts. Low blood counts, especially low white blood cell counts, may make you more likely to get an infection. In order to check for low blood counts your doctor may need to take some blood to test your blood counts.

Note: ABRAXANE is paclitaxel made with the human blood protein albumin. This makes it behave differently in the body than regular paclitaxel. DO NOT SUBSTITUTE FOR OR WITH OTHER PACLITAXEL DRUGS.

Important Safety Information

One of the more important side effects associated with chemotherapy is neutropenia, which is a decrease in the number of infection-fighting white blood cells (neutrophils). Normal levels range from approximately 1,500 cells/mm3 to 1,800 cells/mm3 (but vary according to several factors, such as age and race). If levels fall below 500 cells/mm3, your risk of developing an infection increases and treatment may be interrupted. To avoid the risk of serious infection and fever, your doctor will monitor your absolute neutrophil count (ANC) during therapy.

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. Discuss with your doctor how ABRAXANE may affect fertility. Nursing a baby while taking ABRAXANE is not recommended because the drug may be present in breast milk

The most important adverse events included lower white and red blood cell counts, infections, tingling and numbness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle and joint aches, and mouth sores. Other adverse reactions included weakness, visual disturbances, fluid retention, hair loss, and liver and kidney dysfunction. Low platelet counts, allergic reactions (which in rare cases were severe), cardiovascular reactions, and injection site reactions were uncommon.

Sensory neuropathy (numbness, tingling, or burning in the hands and feet) can occur with ABRAXANE and other paclitaxel medications. Severe sensory neuropathy can improve with proper management, as prescribed by your doctor. You should tell your nurse or doctor if you experience numbness, tingling, or burning in your hands or feet while taking ABRAXANE.

Please talk to your doctor or nurse if you have questions regarding the potential side effects of ABRAXANE therapy. You may want to review the Product Information, including Warnings, Precautions, and Contraindications.

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.

©2008 Abraxis BioScience, LLC. and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP. All Rights Reserved. AO 853/261222  4/08
(Site updated 2/07)

ABRAXANE is marketed under a co-promotion agreement between Abraxis BioScience, LLC. and AstraZeneca.

Abraxis
AstraZeneca

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.