Bavencio (avelumab) is a prescription drug that treats certain skin, kidney, and bladder cancers. The drug comes as a solution that a healthcare professional injects by intravenous (IV) infusion. You receive infusions usually every 2 weeks.

Bavencio is used to treat:

* “Metastatic” means the cancer has spread from where it started to another part of the body. “Locally advanced” means the cancer has spread around where it started but not to other parts of the body.

The active ingredient in Bavencio is avelumab. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) Bavencio belongs to a group of drugs called programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) blockers.

This article describes the dosages of Bavencio, as well as its strength and how it’s given. To learn more about Bavencio, see this in-depth article.

This section describes the usual dosages of Bavencio. Keep reading to learn more.

What is Bavencio’s form?

Bavencio is available as a liquid solution that a healthcare professional gives by intravenous (IV) infusion. An IV infusion is an injection given into your vein over a period of time.

What strength does Bavencio come in?

Bavencio comes in one strength of 200 milligrams (mg) per 10 milliliters (mL), or 20 mg/mL.

What are the usual dosages of Bavencio in adults?

Your doctor will start you on the recommended dosage for the condition the drug is treating.

The information below describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Dosage for Merkel cell carcinoma

Bavencio is approved to treat metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma in adults. The typical dosage for this condition is 800 mg over 60 minutes by IV infusion every 2 weeks.

Your doctor will monitor your condition throughout treatment.

Dosage for renal cell carcinoma

Bavencio is approved to treat advanced renal cell carcinoma in adults. For this condition, the typical dosage is 800 mg over 60 minutes by IV infusion every 2 weeks.

You’ll also take Inlyta (axitinib) oral tablets during Bavencio treatment. Your doctor will determine the right dosage of Inlyta for you.

Throughout treatment, your doctor will monitor your condition.

Dosage for urothelial carcinoma

Bavencio is approved to treat locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma in adults. The typical dosage for this condition is 800 mg over 60 minutes by IV infusion every 2 weeks.

Your doctor will monitor your condition throughout Bavencio treatment.

What’s the dosage of Bavencio for children?

Bavencio is used to help treat Merkel cell carcinoma in children ages 12 years and older.

The dosage used in children is the same as the adult dosage for Merkel cell carcinoma. To learn more, see the “What are the usual dosages of Bavencio in adults?” section above.

If you have questions about your child’s dosage of Bavencio, talk with your child’s doctor.

Is Bavencio used long term?

Yes, Bavencio is usually used as a long-term treatment. Your doctor will monitor your condition throughout treatment. You’ll likely continue Bavencio as long as your condition doesn’t worsen and you don’t have severe side effects.

If you have questions about how long your Bavencio treatment will last, talk with your doctor.

A healthcare professional will give you Bavencio by IV infusion. This is an injection given into your vein over a period of time. Usually, you’ll receive the infusion over 60 minutes at a hospital or a clinic.

Your doctor will likely give you certain pretreatment medications before you receive Bavencio. These may include an antihistamine such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine) and a fever reducer such as Tylenol (acetaminophen). This pretreatment will help lower your risk of infusion reactions, including fever, chills, or rash.

If you miss an appointment to receive a dose of Bavencio, call your doctor’s office as soon as possible to reschedule. They may give you the missed dose and adjust your dosage schedule, if needed, for future doses.

If you need help remembering your appointments, try setting an alarm or downloading a reminder app on your phone.

Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about Bavencio’s dosage.

Is Bavencio’s dosage similar to the dosages of Keytruda?

No, it’s not similar. Although the forms and uses for each drug are similar, the drugs have some differences.

Bavencio and Keytruda (pembrolizumab) both are biologic drugs (made from living cells). They’re approved to treat types of renal, Merkel cell, and urothelial cancers. And Keytruda is also approved to treat other types of cancer.

Both drugs come as a liquid solution that a healthcare professional gives by IV infusion.

The strengths, doses in milligrams, and how often you receive each drug differ. For example, you typically receive Bavencio once every 2 weeks. On the other hand, you receive Keytruda once every 3 or 6 weeks, depending on the condition it’s treating.

Your doctor will prescribe the drug and the dosage that’s right for you. But if you’d like to learn more about how these drugs compare, talk with your doctor.

How long does it take for Bavencio to start working?

Bavencio starts to work after your first dose. It works by helping your immune system detect and stop cancer cells from growing or spreading. It may take several weeks before the cancer cells stop this growth and spread.

Your doctor will monitor you during treatment to check whether the drug is working for your condition. You’ll continue Bavencio treatment as long as your condition doesn’t worsen and you don’t have severe side effects.

If you have other questions about what to expect from your Bavencio treatment, talk with your doctor.

The sections above describe the usual dosage provided by Bavencio’s drugmaker. If your doctor recommends this drug, they’ll prescribe the dosage that’s right for you.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions or concerns about your current dosage.

Here are some examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor:

  • Will you lower my dosage if I have side effects with Bavencio?
  • How does the dosage of Bavencio compare with the dosage of Lenvima (lenvatinib)?
  • If I lose weight, will I need a dosage adjustment for Bavencio?

To learn more about Bavencio, see this “Bavencio (avelumab)” article.

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Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.