Thyrogen, a form of recombinant human thyrotropin (rhTSH), is a protein designed to be identical to natural human thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Thyrogen is produced using biotechnology. Injections of Thyrogen raise the levels of TSH in your body, which is important when preparing for RAI ablation or in monitoring the recurrence of thyroid cancer.1

Thyrogen was first made available in 1999 as a tool to elevate TSH levels without the need for thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) . Injections of Thyrogen raise the levels of TSH in your body, which is important when preparing for procedures like radioactive iodine (RAI) ablation or some diagnostic tests.

Thyrogen is given as an injection into the buttock for 2 consecutive days. Thyrogen injections are given by a health care provider. Please click here to download a copy of Thyrogen Administration Instructions.

Thyrogen is not approved for patients:

  • Patients who have not had a thyroidectomy
  • Who have thyroid cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (distant metastases).1

Thyrogen is produced using biotechnology and is designed to be identical to thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone or TSH

Thyrogen, a form of recombinant human TSH (rhTSH)

How Thyrogen May Help

Unlike with thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) where you are required to stop your thyroid hormone medication for approximately 4-6 weeks and risk the effects of acute hypothyroidism2, with Thyrogen you can remain on your thyroid hormone medication. After you’ve determined when to have your radioactive iodine (RAI) ablation and/or diagnostic testing all you need to do is schedule your Thyrogen injections with your doctor.

Thyrogen is given as an injection into the buttock for two days in a row.
Click here to download a copy of the Thyrogen Administration Instructions Guide.

Thyrogen helps you maintain function and may help avoid some of the signs and symptoms of Acute Hypothyroidism

Thyrogen allows you to stay on your thyroid hormone replacement medication in preparation for radioactive iodine ablation or diagnostic follow-up testing1. This may help you avoid some of the signs and symptoms of acute hypothyroidism in the weeks (or days) leading up to your procedure.

If You Have Been Prescribed Thyrogen

  • Schedule your Thyrogen injections and procedure (ablation and/or diagnostic testing). Click here for Thyrogen Administration Schedule
  • Continue taking your thyroid hormone medication in the days leading up to your procedure (ablation and/or diagnostic testing)

The Uses of Thyrogen1

Thyrogen is used for two main purposes :

1. To prepare for Radioactive Iodine Ablation (RAI)

2. To prepare for Diagnostic Testing with Stimulated Thyroglobulin (Stim Tg) Testing With Or Without A Whole Body Scan (WBS)

1

Radioactive iodine ablation:

After removal of the entire thyroid, some patients may need another therapy to remove any leftover thyroid tissue. This procedure is called radioactive iodine (RAI) ablation. It is performed by giving patients a dose of RAI. RAI targets thyroid cells and destroys any remaining thyroid tissue or cells that may be present in the body.3 RAI is not recommended for all patients. For the RAI ablation to be effective, your TSH will need to be several times higher than normal TSH levels.

To raise the TSH levels, your doctor has 2 options: 
- Prescribe Thyrogen so that you can continue with your thyroid hormone medication 
- Prescribe thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) where you stop taking your thyroid hormone medication for 4-6 weeks

2

Diagnostic testing:

After your initial treatment, your endocrinologist will monitor you to see if your initial treatment was effective or if your cancer has returned.

Thyrogen may be used to prepare you for a stimulated thyroglobulin (Stim Tg) test or for a whole-body scan (WBS). Sometimes, the doctor will do a Stim Tg test together with a whole-body scan.

Stimulated or Non-Stimulated Thyroglobulin Blood Tests

Thyroglobulin Blood Tests: Thyroglobulin, is used as a tumor marker to predict whether your cancer is likely to return and if you need additional treatment. There are two kinds of thyroglobulin blood tests that are commonly used.

  • Unstimulated Thyroglobulin (Tg) Blood Test: To measure if and/or how much thyroglobulin there is in your body, your doctor may do a blood test called a thyroglobulin test. For this test, the doctor will simply take your blood sample and send it to the lab to check thyroglobulin levels.
  • Stimulated Thyroglobulin (Stim Tg) Blood Test: A Stim TG test, is a blood test where your thyroglobulin levels are checked after your TSH has been raised to target levels. A Stim Tg test is more sensitive than an unstimulated Tg test but is not always required.

To raise the TSH levels, your doctor has 2 options: 

  • Prescribe Thyrogen so that you can continue with your thyroid hormone medication 
  • Prescribe thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) where you stop taking your thyroid hormone medication for 4-6 weeks

Whole Body Scan

Whole Body Scan: A whole-body scan (WBS) is used to determine if there is any residual thyroid tissue remaining after your thyroid has been surgically removed or if there are cancerous thyroid cell in any other areas of your body. To prepare for a whole-body scan, you will need to take a low dose of radioactive iodine called I-131. Your doctor will raise your TSH in order for the radioactive iodine to be absorbed by the cells and yield an effective whole body scan (WBS).

To raise TSH levels, your doctor has two options: 

  • Prescribe Thyrogen so that you can continue with your thyroid hormone medication
  • Prescribe thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) where you stop taking your thyroid hormone medication for 4-6 weeks

Watch Patient and Doctor Videos on the Impact of Thyrogen

Important Safety Information
Full Prescribing Information

    Please note:
    Patient – Red Text
    Physician – Green Text
    Safety – Black Text

    I. Opening Safety Information

    INDICATIONS AND USAGE with voiceover

    Thyrogen (thyrotropin alfa) is used to help identify thyroid disease by testing the blood for a hormone called thyroglobulin in the follow up of patients with a certain type of thyroid cancer known as well differentiated thyroid cancer. It is used with or without a radiology test using a form of iodine.

    Limitations of Use:

    • The effect of Thyrogen on long term thyroid cancer outcomes has not been determined.
    • When Thyrogen is used to help detect thyroid cancer, there is still a chance all or parts of the cancer could be missed.

    Thyrogen is also used to help patients prepare for treatment with a form of iodine, called radioiodine, to remove leftover thyroid tissue in patients who have had surgery to take out the entire thyroid gland for patients with well differentiated thyroid cancer who do not have signs of thyroid cancer which has spread to other parts of the body.

    Limitations of Use:

    • In a study of people being prepared for treatment with a form of iodine after thyroid surgery, results were similar between those who received Thyrogen and those who stopped taking their thyroid hormone for up to 5 years after treatment. Researchers do not know if results would be similar over a longer period of time.

    II. Video Introduction
    My name is Amy. I live in Salem, New Hampshire. I recently got married last year and I'm a trainer for a biotech company in Cambridge, Massachusetts. So I found out that I had thyroid cancer. I was told it's a good cancer to have. You know, you're going to have your thyroid removed. You're going to be on medication for the rest of your life. Well, I knew I had to have my thyroid removed. I mean that is standard of care. It is a pretty routine procedure.
    I met Amy because she was being prepared for her first one year follow-up stimulated whole body scan and she was not able to get Thyrogen from the academic center that she was being seen at and wanted a second opinion about how to manage her thyroid cancer. She was very educated and she knew that she could have used the Thyrogen for her initial ablation. Her physician that was managing her disease did not prefer to use it so she actually went through the hypothyroidism.

    III. 1st Ablation/Hypothyroidism
    I was preparing for the ablation. So now they have to give me an artificial medication. Just act like I have a thyroid. Synthroid is because I don't have a thyroid. They told me I had to go through withdrawal so I said, okay, tell me a little bit about this. What's going to happen when I go hypothyroid? You'll be uncomfortable. You can still work, and you have to go on this low iodine diet. I said, okay.
    So I started going to work, and after about maybe a week, I went on medical leave. I couldn't focus on anything. I typed emails. There were some mistakes on every page. I felt like I was walking in peanut butter. I think I gained 22 pounds, eating nothing—really, eating next to nothing. I used to describe it as like being, now that I have a 13-year-old stepdaughter, being hyper-emotional. I mean once I said it's like having an out of body experience and watching yourself do things, and you can't control it or being hyper- emotional because you would start to cry. But you know that it's happening, and you can't control yourself. You also feel like you're constantly in a brain fog and everything's an effort. Like there's just such a disconnect between what you're doing.
    Remember what you do, you stop the medication for three to four weeks. You do the therapy and then when you restart the thyroid hormone, it takes another four to eight weeks to recover so you end up being hypothyroid for a total of three months.

    IV. 2nd Ablation/Thyrogen
    So when I was talking to other people, very knowledgeable about thyroid cancer or what I was going through, they said, I think you have an obligation to talk to somebody else. At least go get a second opinion. So that's when I was given the name of Dr. Lee, and I reached out to Dr. Lee.
    And I went in there explaining what I had been through and when she said what she thought, you know, what she wanted to do, which was a second ablation. I said, first of all, I've been through hypothyroidism. I really don't want to go through that again. And I'm very familiar with thyrogen. And she said, well, of course, I would use thyrogen.
    She really did not want to become hypothyroid again; and actually, came to me requesting whether a recombinant human TSH or Thyrogen would be useful in her particular case? I said yes. Her post-therapy scan showed iodine uptake into local nodes. But after that, her thyroglobulin in her blood did not fall. That told me that she had significant residual disease. And her original institution was going to make her hypothyroid again to do a whole body scan for localization. And she came to me saying, "Is this the best way to manage that?"

    So, for Thyrogen, I had to come into the office, I think, a total of three days. I had to come in and get the injection and had to come in to the office for follow-up.
    So now experiencing thyrogen, it's a little injection in your butt. So maybe people don’t like that. I didn't have to miss work, I felt no different.
    It was simple. I would say, if there was an option provided, patients should definitely look into Thyrogen.

    V. Scrolling ISI/with Professional Voiceover
    IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
    Patients should not use Thyrogen with radioiodine if they have a contraindication to the use of radioiodine. Please consult with your doctor for a list of contraindications for radioiodine.
    Thyrogen can cause serious side effects, including:
    Thyrogen-Induced Hyperthyroidism:

    • There have been reports of events that led to death in patients who not had surgery to have their thyroid gland removed, and in patients with thyroid cancer cells that have spread to other parts of the body.
    • Patients over 65 years old with large amounts of leftover thyroid tissue after surgery, or with a history of heart disease, should discuss with their physicians the risks and benefits of Thyrogen.
    • Thyrogen can be administered in the hospital for patients at risk for complications from Thyrogen administration.

    Stroke:

    • Since Thyrogen was first approved for use, there have been reports of central nervous system problems such as stroke in young women who have a higher chance of having a stroke, and weakness on one side of the body. The relationship between Thyrogen administration and stroke is unknown. Patients should remain hydrated prior to treatment with Thyrogen.

    Sudden Rapid Tumor Enlargement:

    • Leftover thyroid tissue after surgery and cancer cells that have spread to other parts of the body can quickly grow and become painful after Thyrogen administration. Patients with cancer cells near their windpipe, in their central nervous system, or in their lungs may need treatment with a glucocorticoid (a medication to help prevent an increase in the size of the cancer cells before using Thyrogen.)

    Risks Associated with Radioiodine Treatment:

    • If THYROGEN is administered with radioiodine (RAI), the serious side effects for RAI apply to this combination regimen. Please consult with your doctor for a list of contraindications for radioiodine.

    ADVERSE REACTIONS

    In clinical studies, the most common side effects reported were nausea and headache.
    USE IN SPECIFIC PATIENT POPULATIONS

    Pregnant patients: Notify your healthcare provider immediately in the event of a pregnancy. If Thyrogen is administered with radioiodine, the combination regimen should not be used in pregnant women. Thyrogen should be given to a pregnant woman only if the doctor thinks there is a clear need for it.
    Breastfeeding patients:If Thyrogen is administered with radioiodine, the combination regimen should not be used in breastfeeding women. It is not known whether Thyrogen can appear in human milk. Breastfeeding women should discuss the benefits and risks of Thyrogen with their physician.
    Children: Safety and effectiveness in young patients (under the age of 18) have not been established.
    Elderly: Studies do not show a difference in the safety and effectiveness of Thyrogen between adult patients less than 65 years and those over 65 years of age.
    Patients with kidney disease: Thyrogen exits the body much slower in dialysis patients and can lead to longer high TSH levels.

    Indications and Usage:
    Thyrogen (thyrotropin alfa) is used to help identify thyroid disease by testing the blood for a hormone called thyroglobulin in the follow up of patients with a certain type of thyroid cancer known as well differentiated thyroid cancer. It is used with or without a radiology test using a form of iodine.
    Limitations of Use:

    • The effect of Thyrogen on long term thyroid cancer outcomes has not been determined.
    • When Thyrogen is used to help detect thyroid cancer, there is still a chance all or parts of the cancer could be missed.

    Thyrogen is also used to help patients prepare for treatment with a form of iodine, called radioiodine, to remove leftover thyroid tissue in patients who have had surgery to take out the entire thyroid gland for patients with well differentiated thyroid cancer who do not have signs of thyroid cancer which has spread to other parts of the body.

    Limitations of Use:

    • In a study of people being prepared for treatment with a form of iodine after thyroid surgery, results were similar between those who received Thyrogen and those who stopped taking their thyroid hormone for up to 5 years after treatment. Researchers do not know if results would be similar over a longer period of time.

    This patient story reflects the real-life experience of a person diagnosed with thyroid cancer who has been prescribed Thyrogen. However, individual experiences may vary. Patient stories are not necessarily representative of what another person using Thyrogen may experience. Sanofi Genzyme does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The health information contained herein is provided for general educational purposes only. Your healthcare professional is the best source of information regarding your health. Please consult your healthcare professional if you have any questions about your health or treatment.

    Please visit www.thyrogen.com for full prescribing information

    MAT-US-2006958
    April 2020
    © 2020 Genzyme Corporation. All rights reserved.
    Thyrogen, Sanofi and Genzyme are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Impact of Thyrogen versus Thyroid Hormone Withdrawal (THW) – A Patient’s Story

Watch Amy, a thyroid cancer patient, explain how Thyrogen (thyrotropin alfa) helps alleviate some of the signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism caused by thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW).

Important Safety Information
Full Prescribing Information

    INDICATIONS AND USAGE with voiceover
    Thyrogen (thyrotropin alfa) is used to help identify thyroid disease by testing the blood for a hormone called thyroglobulin in the follow up of patients with a certain type of thyroid cancer known as well differentiated thyroid cancer. It is used with or without a radiology test using a form of iodine.
    Limitations of Use: 

    • The effect of Thyrogen on long term thyroid cancer outcomes has not been determined.
    • When Thyrogen is used to help detect thyroid cancer, there is still a chance all or parts of the cancer could be missed.

    Thyrogen is also used to help patients prepare for treatment with a form of iodine, called radioiodine, to remove leftover thyroid tissue in patients who have had surgery to take out the entire thyroid gland for patients with well differentiated thyroid cancer who do not have signs of thyroid cancer which has spread to other parts of the body.
    Limitations of Use:

    • In a study of people being prepared for treatment with a form of iodine after thyroid surgery, results were similar between those who received Thyrogen and those who stopped taking their thyroid hormone for up to 5 years after treatment. Researchers do not know if results would be similar over a longer period of time.

    I. Introduction
    My name is Stephanie Lee, I'm a professor of medicine at Boston Medical Center. My interest in primarily in thyroid disease, both thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer. I just realized I had my 30th anniversary after finishing my fellowship this year. I see a lot of patients per year, primarily all of the patients that I see are thyroid-related patients. I probably have about 700 or 800 thyroid cancer patients,

    I will tell people that the thyroid hormone is your everyday cancer therapy because if the thyroid hormone is not taken and you're hypothyroid, endogenous TSH goes up. So I tell patients as the thyroid stimulating hormone, there's also thyroid cancer stimulating hormone. So our goal is to keep that as low as possible. And you can only achieve that if you take your medication regularly. So I think those are some of the things that are lessons to tell patients and not to scare the young patients quite so much.

    II. Patient Selection - Thyrogen Treatment
    So the question is when do we use Thyrogen for radioactive iodine treatment and what patient might we consider actually taking them off thyroid hormone and making them hypothyroid? So the usual patient who gets therapy now is being stimulated using Thyrogen. The reason is there's been a number of hallmark papers published in the last five years looking at the equivalents of radioactive iodine where there's given 30 or 100 millicuries hypothyroid or with Thyrogen. And all four groups were actually identical in response. So because of that, in patients who have the usual thyroid cancer we will do the treatment with recombinant human TSH.

    III. Understanding Thyrogen
    Thyrogen actually is identical to a hormone made in your pituitary. And the pituitary and the thyroid work a little bit like a thermostat. So when the pituitary realizes there's not enough thyroid hormone, like the thyroid hormone levels are too low, it sends a pulse out to the thyroid and tells the thyroid to make more hormones. So that pulse is TSH, a thyroid stimulating hormone.

    If, for some reason, the thyroid is making too much hormone, it feeds back to the brain. And the brain says, oh, I don’t need to make any more thyroid hormone. So the TSH goes down, and then it turns off the thyroid.

    We can exploit that concept of the TSH stimulating the thyroid to take up iodine and to make thyroglobulin, which is part of the thyroid hormone molecule, for our use in thyroid cancer. So we use that hormone to stimulate the thyroid for two reasons. One is, if we just want to know if it's a residual tumor, you can do the two injections and just measure a blood test five days later for thyroglobulin. And if the thyroglobulin is less than 2.0 we consider that to be a negative test saying that there's unlikely to be significant residual tumor there. On the other hand, if we want to know where the thyroid cancer is, generally, in the usual, typical pathway carcinoma and follicular carcinoma, if we give a dose of radioactive iodine stimulated with the Thyrogen, it will go to the tumor cells, and they will take up the iodine, and then we can see it on a scan.

    So those are the two diagnostic things we do.

    IV. Thyrogen Treatment Experience
    In fact, have to have someone who's been around for a while because we've done just the Thyrogen for so long that it's unusual to see someone who's been withdrawn. But I think it also depends of where you live in the country. So I will meet a patient who's had hypothyroid withdrawal versus Thyrogen.

    So how do I tell my patients to prepare for the radioactive iodine therapy? So in the past, when we made them hypothyroid, I'd write them letters. I used to have an entire paragraph saying if you operate heavy equipment, if you feel like you're too drowsy, you shouldn’t be driving a car, you should not be doing anything that requires balance. And now, with the Thyrogen use, I no longer put that in my letters. I've taken that out or added in for those few patients who will get hypothyroid.

    The rest of the preparation is really preparing them to reduce their iodine load, to come in for the injections and then the therapy and then the complications after therapy.

    V. Dosing

    There are two protocols to follow regarding Thyrogen injection. Diagnostic and ablation. The following protocol is recommended for diagnostic testing with Thyrogen. Day 1 and 2.

    • 0.9 mg IM Thyrogen dose q24 hours for 2 doses (days 1 and 2) Day 3
    • If performing a whole-body scan (WBS), 4 mCi of 131I is given on day 3 (24 hours after the last Thyrogen injection)

    Day 5

    • Serum Tg is measured on day 5 (72 hours after the last Thyrogen injection) when average Tg levels peak
    • WBS is performed on day 5 (72 hours after last Thyrogen injection

    - WBS should be acquired for at least 30 minutes and/or should contain >140,000 counts

    The following protocol is recommended for ablation with Thyrogen.

    Day 1 and 2

    • 0.9 mg IM Thyrogen dose q24 hours for 2 doses. Days 1 and 2 Day 3
    • For remnant ablation with Thyrogen 131I is given on day 3 24 hours after the last Thyrogen injection. The dose of 131I is selected at the discretion of the physician.

    Days 6-10

    • A post ablation scan should be performed 3-7 days after the administration of 131I

    Pretreatment with glucocorticoids should be considered for patients in whom tumor expansion may compromise vital anatomic structures.

    VI. Scrolling ISI/with Professional Voiceover

    IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
    Patients should not use Thyrogen with radioiodine if they have a contraindication to the use of radioiodine. Please consult with your doctor for a list of contraindications for radioiodine.
    Thyrogen can cause serious side effects, including:
    Thyrogen-Induced Hyperthyroidism:     

    • There have been reports of events that led to death in patients who not had surgery to have their thyroid gland removed, and in patients with thyroid cancer cells that have spread to other parts of the body.
    • Patients over 65 years old with large amounts of leftover thyroid tissue after surgery, or with a history of heart disease, should discuss with their physicians the risks and benefits of Thyrogen.
    • Thyrogen can be administered in the hospital for patients at risk for complications from Thyrogen administration.

    Stroke:

    • Since Thyrogen was first approved for use, there have been reports of central nervous system problems such as stroke in young women who have a higher chance of having a stroke, and weakness on one side of the body. The relationship between Thyrogen administration and stroke is unknown. Patients should remain hydrated prior to treatment with Thyrogen.

    Sudden Rapid Tumor Enlargement:

    • Leftover thyroid tissue after surgery and cancer cells that have spread to other parts of the body can quickly grow and become painful after Thyrogen administration. Patients with cancer cells near their windpipe, in their central nervous system, or in their lungs may need treatment with a glucocorticoid (a medication to help prevent an increase in the size of the cancer cells before using Thyrogen.)

    Risks Associated with Radioiodine Treatment:

    • If THYROGEN is administered with radioiodine (RAI), the serious side effects for RAI apply to this combination regimen. Please consult with your doctor for a list of contraindications for radioiodine.

    ADVERSE REACTIONS
    In clinical studies, the most common side effects reported were nausea and headache.
    USE IN SPECIFIC PATIENT POPULATIONS 
    Pregnant patients: Notify your healthcare provider immediately in the event of a pregnancy. If Thyrogen is administered with radioiodine, the combination regimen should not be used in pregnant women. Thyrogen should be given to a pregnant woman only if the doctor thinks there is a clear need for it.
    Breastfeeding patients: If Thyrogen is administered with radioiodine, the combination regimen should not be used in breastfeeding women. It is not known whether Thyrogen can appear in human milk. Breastfeeding women should discuss the benefits and risks of Thyrogen with their physician.
    Children: Safety and effectiveness in young patients (under the age of 18) have not been established.
    Elderly: Studies do not show a difference in the safety and effectiveness of Thyrogen between adult patients less than 65 years and those over 65 years of age.
    Patients with kidney disease: Thyrogen exits the body much slower in dialysis patients and can lead to longer high TSH levels.
    Indications and Usage: Thyrogen (thyrotropin alfa) is used to help identify thyroid disease by testing the blood for a hormone called thyroglobulin in the follow up of patients with a certain type of thyroid cancer known as well differentiated thyroid cancer. It is used with or without a radiology test using a form of iodine.
    Limitations of Use: 

    • The effect of Thyrogen on long term thyroid cancer outcomes has not been determined.
    • When Thyrogen is used to help detect thyroid cancer, there is still a chance all or parts of the cancer could be missed.

    Thyrogen is also used to help patients prepare for treatment with a form of iodine, called radioiodine, to remove leftover thyroid tissue in patients who have had surgery to take out the entire thyroid gland for patients with well differentiated thyroid cancer who do not have signs of thyroid cancer which has spread to other parts of the body.
    Limitations of Use: 
    In a study of people being prepared for treatment with a form of iodine after thyroid surgery, results were similar between those who received Thyrogen and those who stopped taking their thyroid hormone for up to 5 years after treatment. Researchers do not know if results would be similar over a longer period of time.

    Please visit www.thyrogen.com for full prescribing information

    MAT-US-2006958
    April 2020
    © 2020 Genzyme Corporation. All rights reserved. Thyrogen, Sanofi and Genzyme are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

The Benefits of Thyrogen versus Thyroid Hormone Withdrawal (THW) – A Doctor’s Perspective

Watch Dr. Stephanie Lee, MD, PhD, Associate Chief, Section of Endocrinology, Nutrition and Diabetes of Boston Medical Center, share her perspective on how Thyrogen (thyrotropin alfa) helps thyroid cancer patients in preparation for radioactive iodine (RAI) ablation treatment and monitoring for progression.

Do you want to have a better chance of being able to continue with your normal day to day activities in the days leading up to your procedure without having to experience some of the signs and symptoms of acute hypothyroidism?

Talk to your doctor about Thyrogen and call a dedicated case manager at 1-88-THYROGEN (1-888-497-6436) for questions on Thyrogen coverage and support.

Resources

Thyrogen Patient Kit

{ The Patient Kit contains information and resources to help you on your thyroid cancer journey }

Low-Iodine Diet

{ Learn why your doctor may ask you to avoid certain foods and medicines that contain iodine for a few weeks before your ablation procedure.}

Doctor Discussion Guide

{ Use this resource to help make the most of your next appointment with your endocrinologist }

More resources…

{ Learn more }

Important Safety Information and Indications

Important Safety Information and Indications

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Patients should not use Thyrogen with radioiodine if they have a contraindication to the use of radioiodine. Please consult with your doctor for a list of contraindications for radioiodine.

Thyrogen can cause serious side effects, including:
Thyrogen-Induced Hyperthyroidism:

  • There have been reports of events that led to death in patients who have not had surgery to have their thyroid gland removed, and in patients with thyroid cancer cells that have spread to other parts of the body.
  • Patients over 65 years old with large amounts of leftover thyroid tissue after surgery, or with a history of heart disease, should discuss with their physicians the risks and benefits of Thyrogen.
  • Thyrogen can be administered in the hospital for patients at risk for complications from Thyrogen administration.

Stroke:

  • Since Thyrogen was first approved for use, there have been reports of central nervous system problems such as stroke in young women who have a higher chance of having a stroke, and weakness on one side of the body. The relationship between THYROGEN administration and stroke is unknown. Patients should remain hydrated prior to treatment with Thyrogen.

Sudden Rapid Tumor Enlargement: 

  • Leftover thyroid tissue after surgery and cancer cells that have spread to other parts of the body can quickly grow and become painful after Thyrogen administration. Patients with cancer cells near their windpipe, in their central nervous system, or in their lungs may need treatment with a glucocorticoid (a medication to help prevent an increase in the size of the cancer cells before using Thyrogen.)

Risks Associated with Radioiodine Treatment: 

  • If THYROGEN is administered with radioiodine (RAI), the serious side effects for RAI apply to this combination regimen. Please consult with your doctor for a list of contraindications for radioiodine.

ADVERSE REACTIONS
In clinical studies, the most common side effects reported were nausea and headache.
USE IN SPECIFIC PATIENT POPULATIONS
Pregnant patients: Notify your healthcare provider immediately in the event of a pregnancy. If THYROGEN is administered with radioiodine, the combination regimen should not be used in pregnant women. Thyrogen should be given to a pregnant woman only if the doctor thinks there is a clear need for it.
Breastfeeding patients: If THYROGEN is administered with radioiodine, the combination regimen should not be used in breastfeeding women. It is not known whether Thyrogen can appear in human milk. Breastfeeding women should discuss the benefits and risks of Thyrogen with their physician.

Children: Safety and effectiveness in young patients (under the age of 18) have not been established.

Elderly: Studies do not show a difference in the safety and effectiveness of Thyrogen between adult patients less than 65 years and those over 65 years of age.

Patients with kidney disease: Thyrogen exits the body much slower in dialysis patients and can lead to longer high TSH levels.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Thyrogen (thyrotropin alfa) is used to help identify thyroid disease by testing the blood for a hormone called thyroglobulin in the follow up of patients with a certain type of thyroid cancer known as well differentiated thyroid cancer. It is used with or without a radiology test using a form of iodine.

Limitations of Use: 

  • The effect of Thyrogen on long term thyroid cancer outcomes has not been determined.
  • When Thyrogen is used to help detect thyroid cancer, there is still a chance all or parts of the cancer could be missed.

Thyrogen is also used to help patients prepare for treatment with a form of iodine, called radioiodine, to remove leftover thyroid tissue in patients who have had surgery to take out the entire thyroid gland for patients with well differentiated thyroid cancer who do not have signs of thyroid cancer which has spread to other parts of the body.

Limitations of Use: 

  • In a study of people being prepared for treatment with a form of iodine after thyroid surgery, results were similar between those who received Thyrogen and those who stopped taking their thyroid hormone for up to 5 years after treatment. Researchers do not know if results would be similar over a longer period of time.
     

Click here for full Prescribing Information.

 

References

1) Thyrogen (thyrotropin alfa) Package Insert. Cambridge, MA. Genzyme Corporation. March, 2020

2) RADIOACTIVE IODINE FOR THE TREATMENT OF THYROID CANCER. MyThyroid.com; http://www.mythyroid.com/radioactiveiodinecancer.html. Accessed June, 2020

3) E. L. Constant et al. Cerebral Blood Flow and Glucose Metabolism in Hypothyroidism: A Positron Emission Tomography; The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Volume 86, Issue 8, 1 August 2001, Pages 3864–3870, https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem.86.8.7749. Accessed June, 2020

Important Safety Information and Indications

Important Safety Information and Indications

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Patients should not use Thyrogen with radioiodine if they have a contraindication to the use of radioiodine. Please consult with your doctor for a list of contraindications for radioiodine.

Thyrogen can cause serious side effects, including:
Thyrogen-Induced Hyperthyroidism:

  • There have been reports of events that led to death in patients who have not had surgery to have their thyroid gland removed, and in patients with thyroid cancer cells that have spread to other parts of the body.
  • Patients over 65 years old with large amounts of leftover thyroid tissue after surgery, or with a history of heart disease, should discuss with their physicians the risks and benefits of Thyrogen.
  • Thyrogen can be administered in the hospital for patients at risk for complications from Thyrogen administration.

Stroke:

  • Since Thyrogen was first approved for use, there have been reports of central nervous system problems such as stroke in young women who have a higher chance of having a stroke, and weakness on one side of the body. The relationship between THYROGEN administration and stroke is unknown. Patients should remain hydrated prior to treatment with Thyrogen.

Sudden Rapid Tumor Enlargement: 

  • Leftover thyroid tissue after surgery and cancer cells that have spread to other parts of the body can quickly grow and become painful after Thyrogen administration. Patients with cancer cells near their windpipe, in their central nervous system, or in their lungs may need treatment with a glucocorticoid (a medication to help prevent an increase in the size of the cancer cells before using Thyrogen.)

Risks Associated with Radioiodine Treatment: 

  • If THYROGEN is administered with radioiodine (RAI), the serious side effects for RAI apply to this combination regimen. Please consult with your doctor for a list of contraindications for radioiodine.

ADVERSE REACTIONS
In clinical studies, the most common side effects reported were nausea and headache.
USE IN SPECIFIC PATIENT POPULATIONS
Pregnant patients: Notify your healthcare provider immediately in the event of a pregnancy. If THYROGEN is administered with radioiodine, the combination regimen should not be used in pregnant women. Thyrogen should be given to a pregnant woman only if the doctor thinks there is a clear need for it.
Breastfeeding patients: If THYROGEN is administered with radioiodine, the combination regimen should not be used in breastfeeding women. It is not known whether Thyrogen can appear in human milk. Breastfeeding women should discuss the benefits and risks of Thyrogen with their physician.

Children: Safety and effectiveness in young patients (under the age of 18) have not been established.

Elderly: Studies do not show a difference in the safety and effectiveness of Thyrogen between adult patients less than 65 years and those over 65 years of age.

Patients with kidney disease: Thyrogen exits the body much slower in dialysis patients and can lead to longer high TSH levels.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Thyrogen (thyrotropin alfa) is used to help identify thyroid disease by testing the blood for a hormone called thyroglobulin in the follow up of patients with a certain type of thyroid cancer known as well differentiated thyroid cancer. It is used with or without a radiology test using a form of iodine.

Limitations of Use: 

  • The effect of Thyrogen on long term thyroid cancer outcomes has not been determined.
  • When Thyrogen is used to help detect thyroid cancer, there is still a chance all or parts of the cancer could be missed.

Thyrogen is also used to help patients prepare for treatment with a form of iodine, called radioiodine, to remove leftover thyroid tissue in patients who have had surgery to take out the entire thyroid gland for patients with well differentiated thyroid cancer who do not have signs of thyroid cancer which has spread to other parts of the body.

Limitations of Use: 

  • In a study of people being prepared for treatment with a form of iodine after thyroid surgery, results were similar between those who received Thyrogen and those who stopped taking their thyroid hormone for up to 5 years after treatment. Researchers do not know if results would be similar over a longer period of time.
     

Click here for full Prescribing Information.

 

References

1) Thyrogen (thyrotropin alfa) Package Insert. Cambridge, MA. Genzyme Corporation. March, 2020

2) RADIOACTIVE IODINE FOR THE TREATMENT OF THYROID CANCER. MyThyroid.com; http://www.mythyroid.com/radioactiveiodinecancer.html. Accessed June, 2020

3) E. L. Constant et al. Cerebral Blood Flow and Glucose Metabolism in Hypothyroidism: A Positron Emission Tomography; The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Volume 86, Issue 8, 1 August 2001, Pages 3864–3870, https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem.86.8.7749. Accessed June, 2020