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β-thalassemia

MDS

β-thalassemia

β-thal

MDS

MDS

β-thalassemia

What important questions should I ask my healthcare team when receiving REBLOZYL?

One of the best ways to learn about your treatment with REBLOZYL is to talk to your healthcare team. Speaking with your healthcare provider or healthcare team can help make you feel more informed and comfortable. Below are some questions that you may want to ask.

  • Why am I being prescribed REBLOZYL?
  • What are the most important things I need to know about REBLOZYL?
  • Where and how do I receive REBLOZYL?
  • What should I expect while receiving REBLOZYL?
  • What are the most common side effects? And what should I do if I experience one?
  • Are there things that I should not do while receiving REBLOZYL?
  • How and where will my hemoglobin levels be tested prior to dosing?
  • How often should I come in for follow-up visits while receiving REBLOZYL?
  • How long will it take for REBLOZYL to start working? How will I know if it’s working?
  • What dose of REBLOZYL will I be receiving?
  • What if I miss a dose of REBLOZYL?
  • Will my dose of REBLOZYL stay the same?
  • Are there any medications I can’t take while I’m receiving REBLOZYL?
  • How will REBLOZYL affect the course of my disease?
  • What are the pros and cons of receiving REBLOZYL?

Resources for people with MDS

Helpful resources to download

PATIENT
INFORMATION

REBLOZYL
PATIENT BROCHURE

MDS
CAREGIVER BROCHURE

Resources for people with MDS

This list of independent organizations is provided as an additional resource for obtaining information. Inclusion on this list does not indicate endorsement by Bristol Myers Squibb company of an organization or its communications.

American Cancer Society
www.cancer.org

Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation
www.aamds.org

Cancer Support Community
www.cancersupportcommunity.org

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
www.lls.org/support/support-groups

Leukemia Research Foundation
www.allbloodcancers.org

MDS Foundation
www.mds-foundation.org

National Cancer Institute
www.cancer.gov

Celgene Patient Support®

Celgene Patient Support Logo

Learn about financial help for REBLOZYL

At Celgene Patient Support®, we care about making sure you get the help you need to start your treatment. Our Specialists are here to help you and your loved ones understand the programs and services that may be available to you.

Programs that help with the cost of REBLOZYL differ by the type of insurance you have. Even if you don’t have insurance or enough coverage to pay for your medicine, financial help may be available.

Financial assistance
There are programs and organizations that may help pay for REBLOZYL, depending on your insurance situation.

Celgene Commercial Co-pay Program
Co-pay responsibility for REBLOZYL is reduced to $0 (subject to annual benefit limits) for eligible patients with commercial or private insurance (including healthcare exchanges).*

Celgene Patient Assistance Program (PAP)
REBLOZYL may be available at no cost for qualified patients who are uninsured or underinsured.†

If you are unable to afford your medication (including patients with Medicare, Medicaid, or other government-sponsored insurance), you may be able to receive help from independent third-party organizations.‡

Enrolling in Celgene Patient Support®

Email us at patientsupport@celgene.com
or fax to 1-800-822-2496

For more information on Celgene Patient Support®

Call us at 1-800-931-8691,
Monday – Friday 8AM – 8PM ET
(translation services available)

*Other eligibility requirements and restrictions apply. Please see full Terms and Conditions on the Celgene Patient Support® website.

†Patients must meet specified financial and insurance eligibility requirements to qualify for assistance. Please see Eligibility Requirements on the Celgene Patient Support® website.

‡Financial and medical eligibility requirements vary by organization.

Glossary

Anemia: Low red blood cell count

Bone marrow: The soft interior of the bones where new blood cells are created

Erythroid cell: An immature red blood cell

Erythroid maturation agent: Treatment that helps young cells become mature cells

Erythropoiesis: The formation of red blood cells in blood-forming tissue within the bone marrow

Erythropoiesis-stimulating agent: A manufactured erythropoietin given to people to help with anemia

Erythropoietin: A natural growth hormone produced by the kidneys that helps make more immature red blood cells

Hemoglobin: Oxygen-carrying protein found in red blood cells

Ineffective erythropoiesis: The inability of immature red blood cells to mature

Intolerant: Unable to take a drug due to effects of the drug or allergies

Median: A statistics term. The middle value in a set of measurements

Mutation: An abnormal change within a gene

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS): Derived from myelo, which means marrow, and dysplasia, which means abnormal growth. MDS are a group of disorders in which the bone marrow does not make enough healthy blood cells

MDS/MPN-RS-T: Abbreviation for myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm with ring sideroblasts and thrombocytosis. It is a rare form of MDS in which there are a high number of platelets in the blood and the immature red blood cells contain ring sideroblasts

Neutropenia: Lower than normal amount of white blood cells

Placebo: An inactive substance that looks the same as, and is given the same way as, an active drug or treatment being tested

Platelet: A type of blood cell that helps with clotting

Prognostic score: A number based on several factors that helps describe the severity of disease or disease progression

Red blood cells (RBCs): Blood cells that carry oxygen from the lungs to all cells in the body

Red blood cell transfusion: A process that adds red blood cells into the bloodstream

Ring sideroblasts: Cells containing rings of iron deposits

Serum: The clear liquid part of the blood that remains after blood cells and clotting proteins have been removed

Subcutaneous: Under the skin

Thrombocytopenia: Lower than normal number of platelets in the blood

Transfusions: Procedures that add parts of blood or whole blood into the bloodstream

White blood cells (WBCs): Blood cells that help the body fight infection as part of the body’s immune system

What is REBLOZYL® (luspatercept-aamt)?

REBLOZYL is a prescription medicine used to treat anemia (low red blood cells) in adults with:

  • beta thalassemia who need regular red blood cell (RBC) transfusions.
  • myelodysplastic syndromes with ring sideroblasts (MDS-RS) or myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms with ring sideroblasts and thrombocytosis (MDS/MPN-RS-T) who need regular RBC transfusions and have not responded well to or cannot receive an erythropoiesis stimulating agent (ESA).

REBLOZYL is a prescription medicine used to treat anemia (low red blood cells) in adults with myelodysplastic syndromes with ring sideroblasts (MDS-RS) or myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms with ring sideroblasts and thrombocytosis (MDS/MPN-RS-T) who need regular RBC transfusions and have not responded well to or cannot receive an erythropoiesis stimulating agent (ESA).

REBLOZYL is a prescription medicine used to treat anemia (low red blood cells) in adults with beta thalassemia who need regular red blood cell (RBC) transfusions.

REBLOZYL is not for use as a substitute for RBC transfusions in people who need immediate treatment for anemia. It is not known if REBLOZYL is safe or effective in children.

Before receiving REBLOZYL, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

  • have or have had blood clots
  • have or have had high blood pressure (hypertension)
  • take hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills (oral contraceptives)
  • have had your spleen removed (splenectomy)
  • smoke
  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. REBLOZYL may harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment with REBLOZYL.

    • Females who are able to become pregnant:

    • Your healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with REBLOZYL.
    • You should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment with REBLOZYL and for at least 3 months after the last dose.
  • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if REBLOZYL passes into your breast milk.
    • Do not breastfeed during treatment with REBLOZYL and for 3 months after the last dose. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby during this time.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

What are the possible side effects of REBLOZYL?

REBLOZYL may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Blood clots. Blood clots in the arteries, veins, brain, and lungs have happened in people with beta thalassemia during treatment with REBLOZYL. The risk of blood clots may be higher in people who have had their spleen removed or who take hormone replacement therapy or birth control (oral contraceptives). Call your healthcare provider or get medical help right away if you have any of these symptoms:
    • chest pain
    • trouble breathing or shortness of breath
    • pain in your leg, with or without swelling
    • a cold or pale arm or leg
    • sudden numbness or weakness that are both short-term or continue to happen over a long period of time, especially on one side of the body
    • severe headache or confusion
    • sudden problems with vision, speech, or balance (such as trouble speaking, difficulty walking, or dizziness)
  • High blood pressure. REBLOZYL may cause an increase in your blood pressure. Your healthcare provider will check your blood pressure before you receive your REBLOZYL dose. Your healthcare provider may prescribe you medicine to treat high blood pressure or increase the dose of medicine you already take to treat high blood pressure, if you develop high blood pressure during treatment with REBLOZYL.

The most common side effects of REBLOZYL include:

  • tiredness
  • headache
  • muscle or bone pain
  • joint pain (arthralgia)
  • dizziness
  • nausea
  • diarrhea
  • cough
  • stomach (abdominal) pain
  • trouble breathing
  • allergic reactions

REBLOZYL may cause fertility problems in females. This could affect your ability to become pregnant. Talk to your healthcare provider if this is a concern for you.

These are not all of the possible side effects of REBLOZYL. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Please see full Prescribing Information and Patient Information for REBLOZYL.