Eculizumab | Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation (AAMDSIF) Return to top.

Eculizumab

Brand name: 
Soliris

Eculizumab (Soliris ®) is given as an IV into a vein at the doctor’s office or at a special center. The procedure usually takes about 35 minutes. You will probably get an IV once a week for the first 4 weeks. Starting in the 5th week, you will get a slightly higher dose of Soliris every 2 weeks.

How well does it work?

Eculiziumab has many benefits. It has been found to:

  • Improve anemia
  • Reduce or get rid of the need for transfusions
  • Reduce the breaking apart of red blood cells (hemolysis) over both the short and the long term
  • Reduce the risk of blood clots

Soliris does not help increase white blood cell count or platelet cell count.

Common Side Effects

Some common side effects of eculizumab include:

  • Headache
  • Tiredness
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Muscle pain
  • Back pain
  • Cold symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing or sore throat

If you take Soliris, you have a higher risk of being infected with the bacteria that can cause a type of meningitis. Patients should be immunized with a meningococcal vaccine at least 2 weeks prior to administering the first dose of Soliris, unless the risks of delaying Soliris therapy outweigh the risks of developing a meningococcal infection.

AAMDSIF does not recommend, endorse, or make any representation about the efficacy, appropriateness or suitability of any drug, treatment or therapy listed on this website. Some therapies listed on our site are considered experimental for the treatment of bone marrow failure diseases. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding any therapy, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.