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Patient Information Sheet
Palifermin (marketed as Kepivance)
PDF Print Version 
This is a summary of the most important information about Kepivance. For details, talk to your
healthcare professional.
What Is Kepivance?
- Kepivance is a prescription medicine used to reduce the chance of developing
painful sores and ulcers in the mouth (severe mucositis) and to
shorten the time with severe mucositis in patients with blood
cancers who receive high doses of chemotherapy and radiation therapy before bone marrow transplants.
- Kepivance has not been shown to be safe and effective in patients being treated for forms
of cancer other than leukemia or lymphoma.
- Kepivance has not been studied in children.
- It has not been determined if patients age 65 years and over respond to Kepivance
differently than younger patients.
Who Should Not Use Kepivance?
Do not receive Kepivance if you are allergic to:
- Kepivance or any of its ingredients
- other products made from E. coli proteins
What Are The Risks?
Kepivance can cause serious
problems such as:
- Possible tumor growth if Kepivance is used for non-blood related cancers.
- Skin and mucus membrane side effects such as rash, redness,
swelling, itching, unusual sensations in the mouth, tongue color change, tongue thickening and changes in taste. Tell your
healthcare professional if you get any of these side effects.
- Fever
- Breathing problems
- Other common side effects include swelling, pain, joint pain, increases in blood pancreas enzymes, high blood pressure, and protein in the urine.
What Should I Tell My Healthcare Professional?
Before you start receiving Kepivance, tell your
healthcare professional if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding.
Are There Any Interactions With Drugs Or Foods?
Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take including prescription and
nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Kepivance can interact with heparin.
If heparin is used to maintain your I.V., your I.V. must be flushed
with saline before and after receiving Kepivance.
How Should I Take Kepivance?
Kepivance is given as an infusion in the vein (I .V.) for 3 days
before you get chemotherapy and for 3 days after. Kepivance should
not be given to you within 24 hours of your chemotherapy treatment.
Link to Kepivance's Approved Labeling
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Date created: July, 2005; Updated: January 17, 2007
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