Adstiladrin (Nadofaragene Firadenovec-Vncg) for bladder cancer

Overview
Adstiladrin is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat adults with high-risk Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). This includes individuals with carcinoma in situ (CIS, a type of bladder cancer that stays in the bladder lining) with or without papillary tumors (growths in the bladder lining). A person must have a confirmed diagnosis of high-risk BCG-unresponsive NMIBC to be eligible. Adstiladrin is also called nadofaragene firadenovec-vncg.

Adstiladrin is a gene therapy that uses a non-replicating adenoviral vector (a modified virus that cannot multiply) to deliver a gene to bladder cells. This gene makes a protein called interferon alfa-2b, which activates the immune system to fight cancer cells.

How do I take it?
Prescribing information states that Adstiladrin is given directly into the bladder (intravesical instillation) every three months. After the drug is placed in the bladder, it stays there for one hour before being removed. A recipient is usually given a medicine called an anticholinergic before each treatment to reduce bladder discomfort. Adstiladrin should be used exactly as prescribed by a health care provider.

Side effects
Common side effects of Adstiladrin include hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), discharge at the treatment site, hypertriglyceridemia (high triglycerides in the blood), fatigue (tiredness), bladder spasms (sudden tightening of bladder muscles), micturition urgency (strong urge to urinate), increased creatinine (a sign of reduced kidney function), hematuria (blood in the urine), hypophosphatemia (low levels of phosphate in the blood), chills, pyrexia (fever), and dysuria (painful urination).

Rare but serious side effects may include the risk of metastatic bladder cancer (cancer spreading to other parts of the body) if bladder removal surgery (cystectomy) is delayed and the risk of a widespread adenovirus infection (a virus-related illness) in people with weakened immune systems (immunocompromised).

For more information about this treatment, visit:

Label: Adstiladrin — Nadofaragene Firadenovec-Vncg Suspension — DailyMed