The Infusion Process with Teplizumab

The location where you will receive the teplizumab infusions will depend on where is the safest and most convenient for you. We want to make sure that there are as few problems as possible with your ability to receive the treatment. Since this is meant to be given every day for 14 consecutive days, it may not be possible to receive all the treatments in your HCP’s office. They may not have the ability to administer any of the treatments. Many people have received teplizumab in an Infusion Center. Others have had received the treatment at home. And, still others have had a combination (a hybrid) of using two different locations – perhaps the HCPs office or an infusion center for the first five treatments, and then at home for the remaining nine treatments.

It is currently recommended that all pediatric patients receive the first seven infusions in a clinical setting (ie, your HCPs office, an infusion center, or an out-patient clinic) due to the potential for severe acute side effects. They can be transitioned to the home setting if they do well and have a plan in place for emergencies if the need arises.

If the infusion is done at home, you will have a specialized registered nurse (RN) provide the treatments. The medication will be delivered to your home in a refrigerated container. You will need to take the medication out of the shipping container – but not out of the labeled box that the vial of medication is in – and place it in your refrigerator at home. The temperature must remain between 36° F to 46° F (2° C to 8° C) and cannot freeze. Keep the box upright (so you can read the label) and do not shake it. The RN will prepare the medication for infusion when she comes to your home. In addition, she will have direct contact with your HCP if needed, but if any labs are needed you will still need to go to your local lab (Labcorp or Quest) to have them collected as those are not done in the home setting.