Avelumab
This page contains brief information about avelumab and a collection of links to more information about the use of this drug, research results, and ongoing clinical trials.
FDA label information for this drug is available at DailyMed.
Use in Cancer
Avelumab is approved to treat:
- Merkel cell carcinoma (a type of skin cancer) that has spread. It is used in adults and in children aged 12 years and older.¹
- Renal cell carcinoma (a type of kidney cancer) that has spread or cannot be removed by surgery. It is used with axitinib as the first treatment.
- Urothelial cancer (a type of cancer in the bladder or urinary tract) that has spread or cannot be removed by surgery. It is used:
- As maintenance therapy in patients whose cancer did not get worse after first-line platinum chemotherapy.
- In patients whose cancer got worse during or after treatment with platinum chemotherapy.
¹This use is approved under FDA’s Accelerated Approval Program. As a condition of approval, confirmatory trial(s) must show that avelumab provides a clinical benefit in these patients.
Avelumab is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer.
More About Avelumab
Definition from the NCI Drug Dictionary - Detailed scientific definition and other names for this drug.
MedlinePlus Information on Avelumab - A lay language summary of important information about this drug that may include the following:
- warnings about this drug,
- what this drug is used for and how it is used,
- what you should tell your doctor before using this drug,
- what you should know about this drug before using it,
- other drugs that may interact with this drug, and
- possible side effects.
Drugs are often studied to find out if they can help treat or prevent conditions other than the ones they are approved for. This patient information sheet applies only to approved uses of the drug. However, much of the information may also apply to unapproved uses that are being studied.
Research Results and Related Resources
Study Identifies a Potential Cause of Immunotherapy’s Heart-Related Side Effects
Cancer Immunotherapies Don’t Work for Everyone: HLA Gene May Explain Why
Study Details Long-Term Side Effects of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
Study Clarifies Timing of Immunotherapy for Advanced Bladder Cancer
Clinical Trials Accepting Patients
Find Clinical Trials for Avelumab - Check for trials from NCI's list of cancer clinical trials now accepting patients.