NAME OF DRUG
daclizumab

CLASSIFICATION                                     

Immunosuppressant
Monoclonal Antibody 

ALTERNATE NAMES

ZENAPAX

INDICATIONS

•  treatment of acute graft versus host disease in Bone Marrow Transplant (stem cell transplant) patients

RECONSTITUTION AND STABILITY

• refrigerate; do not freeze

• protect undiluted vials from light

• diluted solution in NS minibags stable for 24 hours in fridge or 4 hours at room  temperature

• single use vial; discard unused portion

• discard if particulate matter or discolouration present

COMPATIBILITY

• compatible with NS only

• compatibility data not available; do not mix with other drugs

ROUTES OF ADMINISTRATION

•  IV intermittent - dilute in 50mL NS and administer over 15 minutes

VH & HSC ADMINISTRATION POLICY

Restricted to Bone Marrow Transplant patients only

A - Not to be administered by the direct IV route

DOSAGE 

Treatment of graft versus host disease:

• 1mg/kg/day IV on days 1, 4, 8, 15 and 22

• maximum single dose 100mg

No dosage adjustment required in renal or liver impairment

POTENTIAL HAZARDS OF PARENTERAL ADMINISTRATION

•  anaphylaxis - rarely

• chills after first dose

IMPORTANT IMPLICATIONS

• common side effects include constipation, nausea and vomiting diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, dizziness

•  daclizumab has not be shown to significantly increase the toxicity of the underlying immunosuppressive regimen (including mycophenolate, cyclosporine, azathioprine, corticosteroids, tacrolimus, OKT3, antithymocyte globulin and antilymphocyte globulin)

• may decrease body’s ability to fight infection

• no premedication is required

Rev. Dec 2004