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inlexzo

Inlexzo (Gemcitabine Hydrochloride) is a nucleoside metabolic inhibitor used to treat Breast Neoplasms, Non-Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma, Ovarian Neoplasms, Pancreatic Ductal Carcinoma.

Gemcitabine Hydrochloride · by Janssen Biotech

Available as a generic: Gemcitabine Hydrochloride

Not yet rated· sourced from the FDA label
Rated against independent regulatory sources·Last updated June 7, 2026·How we rate
Verified againstopenFDANIH DailyMedRxClass
Lower-cost optionsSave up to 98%
This medication~$599.88/30
Cheapest in class · capecitabine~$14.21/30
See FDA-approved alternatives

Key facts

Active ingredient
Gemcitabine Hydrochloride
Form
System
Strength
Gemcitabine Hydrochloride EQ 225MG Base
Type
Prescription (Rx)
Brand or generic
Brand-name
Manufacturer
Janssen Biotech
What the pharmacy pays
~$599.88 for 30 — not your price
FDA application
NDA219683

What is Inlexzo?

From the FDA label:INLEXZO contains gemcitabine hydrochloride, a nucleoside metabolic inhibitor. Gemcitabine hydrochloride is 2'-deoxy-2',2'- difluorocytidine monohydrochloride (β-isomer) with a molecular formula of C9H11F2N3O4 ∙ HCl, and a molecular weight of 299.66. The structural formula is: INLEXZO is a sterile, non-resorbable intravesical system containing the equivalent of 225 mg gemcitabine (present as 256.3 mg of gemcitabine hydrochloride). Gemcitabine Intravesical System INLEXZO is a bi-oval-shaped tube containing an almost white to light pink-brown colored gemcitabine component at the center surrounded on each side by off white to light blue-colored osmotic components. The gemcitabine component contains 225 mg of gemcitabine and the following inactive ingredients: polyethylene glycol 8000 (8.0 mg), povidone K30 (13.4 mg), and urea (42.6 mg). The osmotic components contain the following inactive ingredients: FD&C Blue No.1 (0.0042 mg), polyethylene oxide 600,000 (72.0 mg), and urea (648.0 mg). The silicone tube contains two lumens, the larger one containing the drug components and silicone spacers, and the smaller one containing a superelastic nitinol wire in a predefined shape (wireform). Both lumens are capped with a silicone adhesive. The lumen containing the gemcitabine and osmotic components has a single delivery orifice. INLEXZO's coiled dimensions are approximately 5.5 cm wide ×…

How to use

For Intravesical Administration Only Insert INLEXZO (225 mg of gemcitabine) into the bladder once every 3 weeks up to 6 months (8 doses), followed by once every 12 weeks (6 doses). ( 2.2 ) Insert into the bladder using the co-packaged urinary catheter and stylet only. ( 2.1 ) Remove INLEXZO after each 3-week indwelling period. ( 2.2 ) See Full Prescribing Information and Instructions for Use for insertion and removal procedures. ( 2.3 ) 2.1 Important Administration Instructions Administer INLEXZO intravesically only. Do NOT administer by any other route. INLEXZO is co-packaged with a urinary catheter and stylet used to insert INLEXZO through the urinary catheter into the bladder. Administer using the co-packaged urinary catheter and stylet only. INLEXZO should be inserted and removed by a trained healthcare provider. Healthcare providers should become thoroughly familiar with the insertion and removal instructions before attempting insertion or removal of INLEXZO. Prophylactic antibiotics may be used at the discretion of the treating healthcare provider with each INLEXZO insertion and removal. 2.2 Recommended Dosage Insert INLEXZO (225 mg of gemcitabine) into the bladder once every 3 weeks for up to 6 months (8 doses), followed by once every 12 weeks for up to 18 months (6 doses), or until persistent or recurrent NMIBC, disease progression, or unacceptable toxicity. Remove…

Side effects

The most common (>15%) adverse reactions, including laboratory abnormalities, are urinary frequency, urinary tract infection, dysuria, micturition urgency, decreased hemoglobin, increased lipase, urinary tract pain, decreased lymphocytes, hematuria, increased creatinine, increased potassium, increased AST, decreased sodium, bladder irritation, and increased ALT. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Janssen Biotech, Inc. at 1-800-526-7736 (1-800-JANSSEN) or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. The safety of INLEXZO monotherapy was evaluated in Cohort 2 of SunRISe-1, a multi-center, open-label study in 85 adult patients with BCG-unresponsive NMIBC with CIS, with or without papillary tumors [see Clinical Studies (14.1) ]. Patients received INLEXZO (225 mg of gemcitabine) inserted into the bladder every 3 weeks for 6 months, followed by once every 12 weeks for up to 18 months, or until unacceptable toxicity, disease persistence, recurrence, or progression [see Dosage and Administration (2.2) ] . The median number of doses of INLEXZO administered to patients was 9…

Warnings

Important safety information

Risks in Patients with Perforated Bladder : Evaluate the bladder before the intravesical insertion of INLEXZO. Do not administer to patients with a perforated bladder or in whom the integrity of the bladder mucosa has been compromised. ( 4 , 5.1 ) Risk of Metastatic Bladder Cancer with Delayed Cystectomy : Delaying cystectomy can lead to the development of metastatic bladder cancer, which can be lethal. ( 5.2 ) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Safety : INLEXZO can only be safely scanned with MRI under certain conditions. ( 5.3 ) Embryo-Fetal Toxicity : Can cause fetal harm. Advise patients of the potential risk to a fetus and to use effective contraception. ( 5.4 , 8.1 , 8.3 ) 5.1 Risks in Patients with Perforated Bladder INLEXZO may lead to systemic exposure to gemcitabine and to severe adverse reactions if administered to patients with a perforated bladder or to those in whom the integrity of the bladder mucosa has been compromised. Evaluate the bladder before the intravesical administration of INLEXZO and do not administer to patients with a perforated bladder or mucosal compromise until bladder integrity has been restored [see Contraindications (4) ]. 5.2 Risk of Metastatic Bladder Cancer with Delayed Cystectomy Delaying cystectomy in patients with BCG-unresponsive CIS could lead to development of muscle invasive or metastatic bladder cancer, which can be lethal. The risk of developing muscle invasive or metastatic bladder cancer increases the longer cystectomy is delayed in the presence of persisting CIS. Of the 83 evaluable patients with BCG-unresponsive CIS treated with INLEXZO in Cohort 2 of SunRISe-1, seven patients (8%) progressed to muscle invasive (T2 or greater) bladder cancer. Three patients (3.5%) had progression determined at the time of cystectomy. The median time between determination of persistent or recurrent CIS or T1 and progression to muscle invasive disease was 94 days. 5.3 Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Safety INLEXZO may be used with MRI only under the specific predefined conditions provided below to avoid potential safety hazards or severe adverse reactions. Based on clinical experience in patients treated with INLEXZO indwelling in the bladder who underwent MRI scans and nonclinical testing, INLEXZO is MR Conditional. A patient with INLEXZO indwelling in the bladder can be scanned in an MR system under the following conditions: Static magnetic field of 1.5-Tesla and 3-Tesla, only. Maximum spatial gradient magnetic field of 5000 Gauss/cm or less. Maximum magnetic resonance system reported, whole body averaged specific absorption rate of 2-W/kg for 60 minutes of continuous scanning (i.e., per pulse sequence or back-to-back sequences without breaks) in the Normal Operating Mode of operation for the MR system. Under the scan conditions defined, INLEXZO is expected to produce a maximum temperature rise of 2°C after 15 minutes of continuous scanning. In nonclinical testing, the image artifact caused by INLEXZO extends approximately 2 mm from INLEXZO using a gradient echo pulse sequence and a 3-Tesla MR system. 5.4 Embryo-Fetal Toxicity Based on animal data and its mechanism of action, INLEXZO can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman if systemic exposure occurs [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.1) ] . In animal reproduction studies, systemic administration of gemcitabine was teratogenic, embryotoxic, and fetotoxic in mice and rabbits. Advise pregnant women and females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment and for 6 months after final removal of INLEXZO. Advise male patients with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment and for 3 months after final removal of INLEXZO [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1 , 8.3) ] .

Who should not take Inlexzo

INLEXZO is contraindicated in patients with: Perforation of the bladder [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] . Prior hypersensitivity reactions to gemcitabine or any component of the product. Perforation of the bladder ( 4 , 5.1 ) Prior hypersensitivity reaction to gemcitabine or any component of the product ( 4 )

Drug class

How this class works, per Gemcitabine — LiverTox, NCBI Bookshelf (NIH).

May treat (source: NIH RxClass)

See how Inlexzo ranks — best-rated nucleoside metabolic inhibitor for:

Dosage forms

System

The forms currently marketed in the U.S., per the FDA National Drug Code Directory.

Ways to save

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Frequently asked questions

What does Inlexzo treat?
Inlexzo (Gemcitabine Hydrochloride) may be used to treat breast neoplasms, non-small-cell lung carcinoma, ovarian neoplasms, pancreatic ductal carcinoma, based on NIH RxClass drug-classification data (conditions a drug may treat — not a verbatim copy of the FDA-approved label). This is general reference, not medical advice.
How does Inlexzo work?
Inlexzo is a nucleoside metabolic inhibitor. Nucleoside metabolic inhibitors are fake DNA building blocks that fast-dividing cancer cells mistake for the real thing. Once inside, they get incorporated into the cell's DNA and also block enzymes such as ribonucleotide reductase, which together halt DNA copying and cause the cancer cell to die.
How much does Inlexzo cost?
Nobody can tell you what you will pay — your price is set by your insurer's formulary, your deductible and the pharmacy's markup, and none of those are published. What IS published is what the pharmacy paid to acquire it: about $599.88 for 30, per the CMS NADAC survey. Treat that as the floor, not the quote — ask the pharmacist for the cash price as well as your copay, because for cheap generics the cash price often wins. Pharmacies pay less for a same-class option, Capecitabine — about $14.21 on the same basis.
Is there a coupon or discount for Inlexzo?
pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Inlexzo. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.
Who makes Inlexzo?
Inlexzo is marketed by Janssen Biotech. You can see Janssen Biotech's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.
Is Inlexzo a brand-name or generic drug?
Inlexzo is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Gemcitabine Hydrochloride. Lower-cost generic equivalents containing Gemcitabine Hydrochloride are available — ask your pharmacist.
Is Inlexzo available over the counter?
No. Inlexzo is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.
What forms does Inlexzo come in?
Inlexzo is currently marketed as system, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.
What class of drug is Inlexzo?
Inlexzo is classified as nucleoside metabolic inhibitor, per the FDA's Established Pharmacologic Class.
Is Inlexzo FDA-registered?
Inlexzo is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA219683. You can verify this on its official FDA label.
Is Inlexzo safe?
There's no single safe-or-not verdict, and we don't yet have a composite recall-safety score for Inlexzo. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings below, and always consult a licensed professional.
What are the side effects of Inlexzo?
Inlexzo's side effects are taken directly from its FDA label. From the label: The most common (>15%) adverse reactions, including laboratory abnormalities, are urinary frequency, urinary tract infection, dysuria, micturition urgency, decreased hemoglobin, increased lipase, urinary tract pain, decreased lymphocytes, hematuria, increased creatinine, increased potassium,… Both common and serious reactions are documented in full on this page. This is general reference from the FDA, not medical advice — always consult a professional.

Clinical content sourced from the FDA label via openFDA (U.S. FDA). View the FDA label on DailyMed → Provided for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional and the current prescribing information.

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