Imlygic (Talimogene Laherparepvec) for Melanoma

Overview
Imlygic is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the local treatment of unresectable (inoperable) cutaneous, subcutaneous, and nodal (lymph node) lesions in people with melanoma that has recurred after initial surgery.  It’s also known by its drug name talimogene laherparepvec. 

Imlygic works as a genetically modified oncolytic viral therapy to treat melanoma. Specifically, it is designed to target and destroy cancer cells in the skin and lymph nodes. 

How do I take it?
Imlygic is administered cutaneously (into the skin), subcutaneously (under the skin), and/or into a nodal lesion.

Usually a person will receive a second treatment three weeks following their first. They will then continue to receive injections every two weeks thereafter. How long a person receives this treatment will depend on their response.

Side effects
According to the prescribing information the most commonly reported side effects for Imlygic are fatigue, chills, pyrexia (fever), nausea, flu-like illness, and pain at the injection site.

Rare but serious side effects include herpetic infection; injection site complications; immune-mediated events; plasmacytoma (tumor of plasma cells of bony or soft tissue) at the injection site; and blocked airways when it’s injected close to major airways.

For more details about this treatment, visit:

Highlights of Prescribing Information: Imlygic — U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Talimogene Laherparepvec Injection — MedlinePlus