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Catumaxomab

Catumaxomab
Monoclonal antibody
Type Trifunctional antibody
Source Rat/mouse hybrid
Target EpCAM, CD3
Clinical data
Trade names Removab
AHFS/Drugs.com International Drug Names
License data
Routes of
administration
intraperitoneal infusion
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
  • In general: ℞ (Prescription only)
Identifiers
CAS Number
ChemSpider
  • none
 NYesY (what is this?)  

Catumaxomab (trade name Removab) is a rat-mouse hybrid monoclonal antibody which is used to treat malignant ascites, a condition occurring in patients with metastasizing cancer. It binds to antigens CD3 and EpCAM. It is in clinical trials in the United States currently and is used in Europe. It was developed by Fresenius Biotech and Trion Pharma (Germany).

Catumaxomab was developed by Trion Pharma, based on preliminary work by the Helmholtz Zentrum München. Dr. Horst Lindhofer is listed at the primary inventor of the patent. Fresenius Biotech conducted clinical trials and filed the drug for approval with the European Medicines Agency (EMA). It was approved in Europe on 20 April 2009.

The drug is approved for the treatment of malignant ascites in patients with EpCAM-positive cancer if a standard therapy is not available. Ascites is an accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity.

The usual treatment of malignant ascites is to puncture the peritoneum to let the accumulated fluid drain out. After the puncture, catumaxomab is given as an intraperitoneal infusion. The procedure is repeated four times within about eleven days. It has been shown that puncture free survival can be increased from 11 to 46 days with this treatment.

Common adverse effects include fever, nausea and vomiting. Fever and pain should be controlled by giving NSAIDs, analgetics or antipyretics before application of catumaxomab. All side effects were fully reversible in studies. Most are caused by the liberation of cytokines.


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