Durvalumab
Brand names: Imfinzi
Durvalumab is a monoclonal antibody immune checkpoint inhibitor used in several cancers, including non-small-cell and small-cell lung cancer and biliary tract cancer.
Adult dose
Dose auto-extracted from US FDA prescribing information (openFDA / DailyMed) — cross-check; US labelling may differ from UK — not yet clinician-verified. Always confirm against the product SmPC and your local formulary before prescribing.
Contraindications
- None stated (US prescribing information section 4: "None")
Side effects
- In combination with chemotherapy (resectable Stage II/III NSCLC): anaemia, nausea, constipation, fatigue, musculoskeletal pain and rash (each >=20%)
- As a single agent (unresectable Stage III NSCLC): cough, fatigue, pneumonitis or radiation pneumonitis, upper respiratory tract infections, dyspnoea and rash (each >=20%)
- Immune-mediated adverse reactions, which may be severe or fatal, in any organ system - including pneumonitis, colitis, hepatitis, endocrinopathies, dermatologic reactions, nephritis with renal dysfunction, pancreatitis and solid organ transplant rejection
- Infusion-related reactions
- Fatal and other serious complications of allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation performed before or after PD-1/PD-L1 blockade
Clinical monograph
How it works
It binds programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), blocking its interaction with PD-1 and CD80 and thereby releasing inhibition of cytotoxic T cells to enhance antitumour immunity.
Prescribing in practice
- It can cause immune-related adverse effects in any organ, including pneumonitis, colitis, hepatitis and endocrinopathies, which can be severe and may need corticosteroids and dose interruption.
- Infusion-related reactions can occur and require monitoring during administration.
- It is given by intravenous infusion under specialist oncology supervision.
Monitoring
Monitor for immune-related adverse reactions, including liver, thyroid, adrenal, pituitary, lung and bowel involvement, before and during treatment.
Counselling the patient
- Report new cough, breathlessness, persistent diarrhoea, rash or marked fatigue without delay.
- Carry an alert that you are receiving immunotherapy so other clinicians are aware.
Evidence & guidelines
Durvalumab is supported by trial evidence (including the PACIFIC trial in stage III non-small-cell lung cancer) and is appraised by NICE within licensed indications.
Reference: multiple NICE TAs; ESMO IO toxicity guidelines; SmPC; Drug verified in RxNorm (NLM); confirm dosing against the manufacturer SPC (eMC). Verify against your local formulary and current prescribing references before prescribing. The structured dose values shown have been reviewed by a clinician. Monograph status: clinician-reviewed (2026-07-04).
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
- Revised Original International Autoimmune Hepatitis Score (IAIHG) · Autoimmune Liver Disease
- Ho Index for Predicting Response to Medical Therapy in IBD · Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Rh(D) Immune Globulin Dosage for Maternal-Fetal Haemorrhage · Haematology in Pregnancy
- AREDS Classification of Age-related Macular Degeneration · Macular Degeneration
- Diabetic Macular Oedema (DMO) Classification · Diabetic Retinopathy
- Retinopathy of Prematurity — International Classification (ICROP3) · Paediatric Retina