BAVENCIO

What is this medication?

BAVENCIO is a prescription immunotherapy medication, also known by its generic name avelumab, that works by helping the immune system identify and attack cancer cells. It is primarily used to treat a rare and aggressive form of skin cancer called metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma in adults and pediatric patients twelve years and older. It is also indicated for patients with advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma, which is a type of cancer affecting the bladder or urinary tract, particularly as a maintenance treatment when the cancer has responded to initial chemotherapy.

In addition to these uses, BAVENCIO is prescribed in combination with axitinib for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma, which is a common type of kidney cancer. As a PD-L1 blocking antibody, the medication works by targeting specific proteins that cancer cells use to hide from the immune system. It is administered by a healthcare provider through an intravenous infusion, and the treatment schedule is typically determined by the specific type of cancer being treated and the patient's response to the therapy.