JLE

Journal de Pharmacie Clinique

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Safety of monoclonal antibodies for the technician: myth or reality? About a survey of professional practice Volume 27, issue 4, octobre-novembre-décembre 2008

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Authors
Service de pharmacie, CLCC François Baclesse, 3 avenue du Général Harris, 14076 Caen Cedex 05, Département de pharmacie galénique, UFR des Sciences pharmaceutiques, Boulevard Becquerel, 14032 Caen Cedex

The preparation of conventional cancer chemotherapies presents a risk for the technician. By analogy, one could legitimately question the risk involved in the handling of monoclonal antibodies. A national survey of the practice of monoclonal antibody preparation was carried out. Results were compared with data from the literature. The survey reveals questions shared by numerous pharmacists about the safety of monoclonal antibodies during their handling. It also shows that where centralization of preparation was adopted for economic and safety reasons in several hospitals, no separation was carried out between production lines of monoclonal antibodies and conventional chemotherapies. Bibliographical data and the physico-chemical properties of monoclonal antibodies suggest only a slight professional risk. In order to avoid all risk of cross-contamination, it seems desirable to separate preparation of drugs of different carcinogenic potential based on the International Agency for Research on Cancer classification. The separation of circuits of preparation would, however, raise questions of feasibility in terms of human and material resources. Consideration must be given to new therapies with different risks for the technician.