Tecentriq Use In Pregnancy & Lactation

Women of childbearing potential: Women of childbearing potential have to use effective contraception during and for 5 months after treatment with atezolizumab.
Pregnancy: There are no data from the use of atezolizumab in pregnant women. No developmental and reproductive studies were conducted with atezolizumab. Animal studies have demonstrated that inhibition of the PD-L1/PD-1 pathway in murine pregnancy models can lead to immune-related rejection of the developing foetus resulting in foetal death (see Pharmacology: Toxicology: Preclinical safety data under Actions). These results indicate a potential risk, based on its mechanism of action, that administration of atezolizumab during pregnancy could cause foetal harm, including increased rates of abortion or stillbirth.
Human immunoglobulins G1 (IgG1) are known to cross the placental barrier and atezolizumab is an IgG1; therefore, atezolizumab has the potential to be transmitted from the mother to the developing foetus.
Atezolizumab should not be used during pregnancy unless the clinical condition of the woman requires treatment with atezolizumab.
Breast-feeding: It is unknown whether atezolizumab is excreted in human milk. Atezolizumab is a monoclonal antibody and is expected to be present in the first milk and at low levels afterwards. A risk to the newborns/infants cannot be excluded. A decision must be made whether to discontinue breast-feeding or to discontinue Tecentriq therapy taking into account the benefit of breast-feeding for the child and the benefit of therapy for the woman.
Fertility: No clinical data are available on the possible effects of atezolizumab on fertility. No reproductive and development toxicity studies have been conducted with atezolizumab; however, based on the 26-week repeat dose toxicity study, atezolizumab had an effect on menstrual cycles at an estimated AUC approximately 6 times the AUC in patients receiving the recommended dose and was reversible (see Pharmacology: Toxicology: Preclinical safety data under Actions). There were no effects on the male reproductive organs.