Crizanlizumab is a prescription medicine (Selectin Blocker). The sections below reproduce one FDA label for it, named under "Label". Products in other forms, strengths or from other makers have their own labels, which can differ.
- Type
- Prescription only (Rx)
- Brand names
- Adakveo
- Drug class
- Selectin Blocker
- Taken
- Intravenous
- Label
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, revised June 4, 2026 · full label on DailyMed
- Biosimilars
- 1 approved · details
What it is used for
ADAKVEO ® is indicated to reduce the frequency of vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs) in adults and pediatric patients aged 16 years and older with sickle cell disease. ADAKVEO is a selectin blocker indicated to reduce the frequency of vasoocclusive crises in adults and pediatric patients aged 16 years and older with sickle cell disease.
Forms and strengths
Injection: 100 mg/10 mL (10 mg/mL) as a clear to opalescent, colorless to slightly brownish-yellow solution in a single-dose vial. Injection: 100 mg/10 mL (10 mg/mL) solution in a single-dose vial.
Who should not take it (contraindications)
None. None.
Warnings and precautions
Infusion-Related Reactions: Monitor for and advise patients of signs and symptoms. Discontinue ADAKVEO infusion for severe reactions and manage medically. Temporarily interrupt or slow the rate of infusion for mild or moderate infusion-related reactions and initiate symptomatic treatment. Exercise caution with corticosteroids in patients with sickle cell disease unless clinically indicated (e.g., treatment of anaphylaxis). ( 5.1 ) Interference With Automated Platelet Counts (platelet clumping): Run test as soon as possible or use citrate tubes. ( 5.2 )
5.1 Infusion-Related Reactions In the SUSTAIN clinical trial, infusion-related reactions (IRRs) (defined as occurring during/within 24 hours of infusion) were observed in 2 (3%) patients treated with ADAKVEO 5 mg/kg. In the STAND clinical trial, IRRs were observed in 6 (7%) patients treated with ADAKVEO 5 mg/kg. IRRs presented most frequently as pain, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, pruritis, diarrhea, and pyrexia. Some IRRs have required hospitalizations. The majority of these IRRs occurred during the first and second infusions. Monitor for and advise patients to report signs and symptoms of IRRs. Discontinue ADAKVEO infusion for severe IRRs and institute appropriate medical care. Consider permanent discontinuation of ADAKVEO treatment in case of severe IRRs. Manage mild to moderate infusion-related reactions with temporary interruption of infusion, slowing the rate of infusion, symptomatic treatment (e.g., acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), opioids, antihistamines, intravenous fluids, and/or oxygen therapy). For subsequent infusions, consider premedication and/or infusion rate reduction. Exercise caution with corticosteroids in patients with sickle cell disease unless clinically indicated (e.g., treatment of anaphylaxis). Use of corticosteroids may increase the risk of complications such as acute chest syndrome and fat embolism. Infusion-Related Reactions and Vaso-occlusive Crises Infusion-related reactions are sometimes indistinguishable from vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) events. IRRs and VOCs may occur concomitantly and/or VOCs may occur as a consequence of an IRR.
5.2 Laboratory Test Interference Interference with automated platelet counts (platelet clumping) has been observed following administration of ADAKVEO, in particular, when blood samples were collected in tubes containing ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Mitigation strategies are recommended [see Drug Interactions (7.1)] .
Side effects (adverse reactions)
The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling: Infusion-related reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)] The most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 10%) were headache, arthralgia, nausea, back pain, fatigue, abdominal pain, pyrexia, diarrhea, vomiting, and oropharyngeal pain. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation at 1-888-669-6682 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch .
6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Sickle Cell Disease SUSTAIN Trial The safety of ADAKVEO was evaluated in the SUSTAIN trial [see Clinical Studies (14.1)] . Eligible patients were diagnosed with sickle cell disease (any genotype, including HbSS, HbSC, HbS beta 0 -thalassemia, HbS beta + -thalassemia, and others). Patients received ADAKVEO 5 mg/kg (N = 66) or 2.5 mg/kg (N = 64) or placebo (N = 62) administered by intravenous infusion on Week 0, Week 2, and every 4 weeks thereafter. The safety evaluation below is limited to the patients who received the recommended dose of 5 mg/kg. Among the 66 patients that received the recommended dose (5 mg/kg), 83% were exposed for 6 months or longer and 61% were exposed for approximately one year; forty-two (64%) patients were treated with ADAKVEO in combination with hydroxyurea. Serious adverse reactions were reported in 2 patients (3%) treated with ADAKVEO 5 mg/kg; both reactions were pyrexia. Two deaths (3%) occurred in the ADAKVEO 5 mg/kg treatment group. None of the deaths were considered to be related to ADAKVEO. The most common adverse reactions (≥ 10%) were arthralgia, nausea, back pain, abdominal pain, pyrexia, and diarrhea. Table 1 summarizes the adverse reactions in the SUSTAIN trial. Table 1: Adverse Reactions (≥ 10%) in Patients Receiving ADAKVEO With a Difference Between Arms of > 3% Compared to Placebo in SUSTAIN a Abdominal pain: abdominal pain, upper abdominal pain, lower abdominal pain, and abdominal tenderness. ADAKVEO 5 mg/kg N = 66 % Placebo N = 62 % Adverse Reactions All Grades % Grade ≥ 3 % All Grades % Grade ≥ 3 % Arthralgia 18 2 8 2 Nausea 18 0 11 2 Back pain 15 0 11 0 Abdominal pain a 12 0 5 0 Pyrexia 11 12 7 0 Diarrhea 11 0 3 2 Clinically relevant adverse reactions (all Grades) that were reported in less than 10% of patients treated with ADAKVEO included: oropharyngeal pain, vomiting, pruritus (pruritus and vulvovaginal pruritus), musculoskeletal chest pain, myalgia, infusion-site reaction (infusion-site extravasation, infusion-site pain, and infusion-site swelling), and infusion-related reaction. STAND Trial The safety of ADAKVEO was also evaluated in the STAND trial [see Clinical Studies (14.1)] . Eligible patients were diagnosed with sickle cell disease (any genotype, including HbSS, HbSC, HbS beta 0 -thalassemia, HbS beta + -thalassemia, and others). Patients received ADAKVEO 5 mg/kg (N = 84) or 7.5 mg/kg (N = 83) or placebo (N = 85) administered by intravenous infusion on Week 0, Week 2, and every 4 weeks thereafter. The safety evaluation below is limited to the patients who received the recommended dose of 5 mg/kg. Among the 84 patients that received the recommended dose (5 mg/kg), 93% were exposed for approximately 6 months or longer and 88% were exposed for approximately one year; sixty-two (74%) patients were treated with ADAKVEO in combination with hydroxyurea. Serious adverse reactions were reported in 2 patients (2%) treated with ADAKVEO 5 mg/kg and this reaction was pain. The most common adverse reactions (≥ 10%) were headache, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, and oropharyngeal pain. Table 2: Adverse Reactions (≥ 10%) in Patients Receiving ADAKVEO With a Difference Between Arms of > 3% Compared to Placebo in STAND a Fatigue includes asthenia and malaise. ADAKVEO 5 mg/kg N = 84 % Placebo N = 85 % Adverse Reactions All Grades % Grade ≥ 3 % All Grades % Grade ≥ 3 % Headache 25 1 19 0 Nausea 17 0 9 0 Fatigue a 13 0 8 0 Vomiting 10 0 5 0 Oropharyngeal pain 10 0 4 0 Clinically relevant adverse reactions (all Grades) that were reported in less than 10% of patients treated with ADAKVEO or events having a difference of less than 3% between ADAKVEO treatment arms and placebo included: diarrhea, pruritus, dizziness, infusion-related reaction, infusion-site reaction.
Drug interactions
7.1 Laboratory Test Interference Platelet Tests ADAKVEO interferes with automated platelet counts (platelet clumping) in particular when blood samples are collected in tubes containing EDTA, which may lead to unevaluable or falsely decreased platelet counts. Run blood samples within 4 hours of blood collection or collect blood samples in tubes containing citrate. When needed, estimate platelet count via peripheral blood smear.
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, children and older adults
Pregnancy: May cause fetal harm. ( 8.1 )
8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary Based on data from animal studies, ADAKVEO has the potential to cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. In an animal reproduction study, intravenous administration of crizanlizumab-tmca to pregnant cynomolgus monkeys from the onset of organogenesis through delivery resulted in a non-dose related increased fetal loss (abortions/stillbirths) at doses approximately 2.8 times the exposure at the recommended clinical dose at 5 mg/kg/dose once every 4 weeks (see Data) . There are insufficient human data on ADAKVEO use in pregnant women to evaluate for a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. ADAKVEO should only be used during pregnancy if the expected benefit to the patient justifies the potential risk to the fetus. The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is approximately 14% and up to 43%, respectively. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. Clinical Considerations Disease-Associated Maternal and/or Embryo/Fetal Risk Women with sickle cell disease have an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes for the mother and the fetus. Pregnant women are at greater risk for VOCs, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, and maternal mortality. For the fetus, there is an increased risk for intrauterine growth restriction, preterm delivery, low birth weight, and perinatal mortality. Data Animal Data In an enhanced pre- and postnatal development study in cynomolgus monkeys, pregnant animals received intravenous doses of crizanlizumab-tmca at 10 and 50 mg/kg once every 2 weeks during the period of onset of organogenesis through delivery. No maternal toxicity was observed. Maternal exposures at doses of 10 and 50 mg/kg were between 2.8 and 16 times, respectively, the human clinical exposure based on area under the curve (AUC) in patients with sickle cell disease at 5 mg/kg/dose once every 4 weeks. There was an increase in fetal loss (abortions or still births) at both crizanlizumab-tmca doses which was higher in the third trimester. There were no effects on infant growth and development through 6-months postpartum that were attributable to crizanlizumab-tmca. Measurable crizanlizumab-tmca serum concentrations were observed in the infant monkeys at postnatal Day 28, confirming that crizanlizumab crosses the placental barrier.
8.2 Lactation Risk Summary There is no data on the presence of crizanlizumab-tmca in human or animal milk, the effects on the breastfed child, or the effects on milk production. Maternal IgG is known to be present in human milk. The effects of local gastrointestinal exposure and limited systemic exposure in the breastfed child to crizanlizumab-tmca are unknown. The developmental and health benefits of breast-feeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for ADAKVEO and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed child from ADAKVEO or from the underlying maternal condition.
8.4 Pediatric Use The safety and effectiveness of ADAKVEO for sickle cell disease have been established in pediatric patients aged 16 years and older. Use of ADAKVEO for sickle cell disease is supported by evidence from adequate and well-controlled studies in adults and pediatric patients (SUSTAIN trial). The SUSTAIN trial enrolled one pediatric patient treated with ADAKVEO 5 mg/kg aged 16 years old [see Adverse Reactions (6.1), Clinical Pharmacology (12.3), Clinical Studies (14)] . The safety and efficacy of ADAKVEO in pediatric patients below the age of 16 years have not been established.
8.5 Geriatric Use There were no ADAKVEO-treated patients 65 years of age and older in the clinical studies for sickle cell disease [see Clinical Studies (14)] . Clinical studies of ADAKVEO did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects.
How it works
Crizanlizumab-tmca is a humanized IgG2 kappa monoclonal antibody that binds to P-selectin and blocks interactions with its ligands, including P-selectin glycoprotein ligand 1 (PSGL-1). Crizanlizumab can also dissociate preformed P-selectin/PSGL-1 complex. Binding P-selectin on the surface of the activated endothelium and platelets blocks interactions between endothelial cells, platelets, red blood cells, and leukocytes.
Are there biosimilars to Crizanlizumab?
Yes. The FDA has approved 1 biosimilars; 1 of those approvals are active (not discontinued). As with generics, approval does not guarantee a product is stocked or covered.
- Adakveo Novartis Pharms Corp, approved 2019
Biologics have biosimilars rather than generics: highly similar versions with no clinically meaningful differences. Only biosimilars the FDA designates as interchangeable can be swapped at the pharmacy without asking the prescriber, where state law allows; the FDA Purple Book lists which ones are.
Source: Drugs@FDA (via openFDA), checked October 29, 2026. Marketing status is what companies report to the FDA; whether a pharmacy stocks a product, and what your insurance covers, can differ.
Dosage:
we do not reproduce dosing instructions. The right dose depends on the person and the condition and is set by the prescriber or pharmacist. Dosage section of the full label.
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Source: FDA structured product labeling, retrieved through openFDA. Label text is shown as published by the FDA, without editing; long sections are shortened, marked […]. openFDA data are not validated for clinical use — always check the current label and ask a doctor or pharmacist about your own treatment. Set ID b2b7f8b4-fe9a-4a86-8129-9e43f99a20c6.