Mepolizumab

The Basics

What is Mepolizumab?

Used along with other medications to prevent wheezing, difficulty breathing, chest tightness, and coughing caused by asthma.

Brand names for Mepolizumab

Nucala

How Mepolizumab is classified

Anti-Allergic Agents, Anti-Asthmatic Agents, Antibodies – Monoclonal (Humanized)

Mepolizumab During Pregnancy

Mepolizumab pregnancy category

Category N/ANote that the FDA has deprecated the use of pregnancy categories, so for some medications, this information isn’t available. We still think it’s useful to list historical info, however, given what a common proxy this has been in the past.

What we know about taking Mepolizumab while pregnant

N/A

Taking Mepolizumab While Breastfeeding

What are recommendations for lactation if you're taking Mepolizumab?

No information is available on the clinical use of mepolizumab during breastfeeding. Because mepolizumab is a large protein molecule with a molecular weight of 149,000, the amount in milk is likely to be very low and absorption is unlikely because it is probably destroyed in the infant’s gastrointestinal tract. Until more data become available, mepolizumab should be used with caution during breastfeeding, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant.

Maternal / infant drug levels

No information is available on the clinical use of mepolizumab during breastfeeding. Because mepolizumab is a large protein molecule with a molecular weight of 149,000, the amount in milk is likely to be very low and absorption is unlikely because it is probably destroyed in the infant’s gastrointestinal tract. Until more data become available, mepolizumab should be used with caution during breastfeeding, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant.

Possible effects of Mepolizumab on milk supply

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Possible alternatives to Mepolizumab

(Asthma) Benralizumab, Omalizumab.