Bavencio (Avelumab) for Kidney Cancer

Overview
Bavencio is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a first-line treatment, in combination with axitinib, for adults with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), a common type of kidney cancer. This combination is typically offered to people who have not received prior treatment for advanced RCC. Bavencio is also known by its drug name, avelumab.

Bavencio is a type of immunotherapy called a programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) blocking antibody. It works by preventing cancer cells from using PD-L1 to hide from the immune system, helping the body’s natural defenses detect and destroy the cancer.

How do I take it?
Prescribing information states that Bavencio is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion. For kidney cancer, it is typically administered every two weeks in combination with axitinib, which is taken orally twice a day. The drug should be administered exactly as prescribed by a healthcare provider.

Side effects
Common side effects of Bavencio when used in combination with axitinib for kidney cancer include diarrhea, fatigue, hypertension (high blood pressure), musculoskeletal pain, nausea, mucositis (inflammation of the mouth and digestive tract), palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (hand-foot syndrome), dysphonia (voice changes), decreased appetite, hypothyroidism, rash, hepatotoxicity (liver damage), cough, dyspnea (shortness of breath), abdominal pain, and headache.

Rare but serious side effects may include immune-mediated reactions that can affect any organ or tissue. These include pneumonitis (lung inflammation), colitis (inflammation of the colon), hepatitis (liver inflammation), endocrinopathies (hormonal disorders), nephritis with renal dysfunction (kidney inflammation and damage), and dermatologic adverse reactions (skin disorders). Bavencio may also cause infusion-related reactions, complications in people who undergo stem cell transplants, and major cardiovascular events. The drug can cause harm to an unborn baby, so effective birth control is recommended during treatment.

For more information about this treatment, visit:

Bavencio (Avelumab) Injection, for Intravenous Use — EMD Serono