Oncology and Chemotherapy Medications

Each medication is FDA-approved for its own cancers and uses:

• Leukemia, lymphoma, osteosarcoma, breast cancer, head and neck cancer and gestational trophoblastic neoplasia: methotrexate, given intravenously or by injection into a muscle or under the skin by a healthcare professional, alone or as part of combination chemotherapy, depending on the cancer.
• CD20-positive B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL): Rituxan (rituximab) and its biosimilar Ruxience (rituximab-pvvr), given intravenously, alone or with chemotherapy. Rituxan alone is also approved for children 6 months and older with mature B-cell lymphoma and leukemia.
• Lung cancer, liver cancer, melanoma, bladder cancer, colon cancer and alveolar soft part sarcoma: Tecentriq (atezolizumab), an immunotherapy given intravenously, or as Tecentriq Hybreza (atezolizumab and hyaluronidase-tqjs) by subcutaneous injection, by a healthcare professional, each in the stages and tumor types its label sets.
• Advanced prostate cancer: Eligard (leuprolide acetate), a hormone medicine given by subcutaneous injection by a healthcare professional.
• Low white blood cell counts during chemotherapy: Neulasta (pegfilgrastim) and Neupogen (filgrastim), to lower the chance of infection when chemotherapy for a cancer that does not start in the bone marrow often causes febrile neutropenia; Neupogen also after induction or consolidation chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
• Anemia caused by chemotherapy: Epogen (epoetin alfa), also sold as Procrit, for non-myeloid cancers when at least two more months of chemotherapy are planned; it is not for patients whose chemotherapy is expected to cure the cancer.
• High blood calcium and bone disease from cancer: Zometa (zoledronic acid), given intravenously, for hypercalcemia of malignancy, and with standard cancer treatment for multiple myeloma and for solid tumors that have spread to bone.
• Bone loss from hormone therapy for prostate or breast cancer: Prolia (denosumab) and its biosimilar Jubbonti (denosumab-bbdz), given by subcutaneous injection by a healthcare professional, to increase bone mass in patients at high risk of fracture on androgen deprivation therapy for non-metastatic prostate cancer or on an aromatase inhibitor after breast cancer.

The six chemotherapy medicines, the anti-nausea medicines and the breast cancer hormone medicine that MedRx also fills are described on the cancer care page. Each medicine named on this page has its own page, linked at the end.

Chemotherapy is given by mouth, by injection or by intravenous (IV) infusion. Oral chemotherapy is taken at home, and MedRx delivers it to the patient's door at no charge.

When the oncologist agrees that an injected or infused treatment can be given at home, MedRx sends a skilled, trusted and licensed nurse from an accredited nursing agency to give it. The oncologist decides which treatment is appropriate and where each one is given.

Of the supportive care medicines, the patient or a caregiver can inject Epogen, Neupogen and Neulasta's prefilled syringe under the skin after training. Tecentriq, Rituxan, methotrexate, Eligard, Zometa and Prolia are given by a healthcare professional, and Neulasta's on-body injector is applied by one.

1. The oncologist's office faxes the prescription, or calls (844) 671-2600, with the Oncology referral form (PDF), recent clinical notes and laboratory results. Quick Referral has every MedRx referral form.
2. The intake team verifies the patient's benefits and secures any prior authorization the plan requires before the first fill.
3. MedRx delivers the medication and supplies at no charge, to the patient's door or to the oncologist's office when it is given there. Next-day delivery is available; timing varies by location.
4. When the oncologist approves treatment at home, a skilled, trusted and licensed nurse from an accredited nursing agency gives it and monitors the patient throughout.
5. Patients and offices can reach a MedRx pharmacist 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Cancer medicines often need the health plan's prior authorization. MedRx's intake team verifies coverage and completes the authorization with the oncologist's office before the first delivery.

If a patient's share of the cost is a barrier, MedRx helps the patient look for and apply to copay assistance, grants and other financial aid. Manufacturer programs include Genentech Patient Support Services for Tecentriq, Amgen SupportPlus for Neulasta, Neupogen, Epogen and Prolia, and the Tolmar Patient Assistance Program for Eligard; each medication page names its program.

• Cancer medicines: Tecentriq, Rituxan, Eligard and Methotrexate, chemotherapy and cancer care at home.
• Supportive care: Neulasta, Neupogen, Epogen, Zoledronic Acid and Prolia.

Each has its own page: what it is approved for, how it is given, and how to start. See every medication we fill.