Anti-thymocyte globulin (rabbit)

What Anti-thymocyte globulin (rabbit) is used for

Quoted from the “Indications and Usage” section of the FDA-approved label.

THYMOGLOBULIN is indicated for the prophylaxis and treatment of acute rejection in adult and pediatric patients receiving a kidney transplant in conjunction with concomitant immunosuppression. THYMOGLOBULIN is an immunoglobulin G indicated for the prophylaxis and treatment of acute rejection in adult and pediatric patients receiving a kidney transplant in conjunction with concomitant immunosuppression.

— FDA label: Thymoglobulin, Genzyme Corporation, effective June 24, 2026. Read the full label on DailyMed →

Label quoted: the one for the most common form (injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution, intravenous), Thymoglobulin, Genzyme Corporation; it covers 1 product in the FDA NDC Directory. The side effects, interactions, dosage and pregnancy quotes below come from this same label.

This page is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you start, stop or change any medicine.

Boxed warning

A boxed warning (“black box”) is the FDA’s strongest warning on a drug label, for serious or life-threatening risks.

The label quoted above has no boxed warning.

Anti-thymocyte globulin (rabbit) side effects

Quoted from the “Adverse Reactions” section of the FDA-approved label. Tell your doctor about any side effect that worries you.

The most common adverse reactions and laboratory abnormalities (incidence >5% higher than comparator) are urinary tract infection, abdominal pain, hypertension, nausea, shortness of breath, fever, headache, anxiety, chills, increased potassium levels in the blood, low counts of platelets and white blood cells.

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(6) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Genzyme Corporation at 1-800-633-1610 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 most common adverse reactions and laboratory abnormalities (incidence >5% higher than comparator) are urinary tract infection, abdominal pain, hypertension, nausea, shortness of breath, fever, headache, anxiety, chills, increased potassium levels in the blood, and low counts of platelets and white blood cells. Prophylaxis of Acute Rejection The safety of THYMOGLOBULIN compared to Active Comparator for the prophylaxis of acute rejection in patients receiving a kidney transplant were evaluated in a randomized, open-label, international, multicenter trial in patients receiving solitary kidneys from deceased donors (n=278; Study 1). Table 1: Adverse Reactions Adverse reactions are treatment emergent adverse events (TEAE) reported as related to the study agent in at least 1 patient. and Laboratory Abnormalities Reported More Frequently (incidence Number (percentage) is shown regardless of causal relationship. >5%) Following THYMOGLOBULIN versus Active Comparator basiliximab Adverse Reaction [n (%)] THYMOGLOBULIN (N=141) Active Comparator (N=137) Urinary tract infection 55 (39%) 36 (26%) Pyrexia 39 (28%) 25 (18%) Headache 26 (18%) 17 (12%) Hyperlipidemia 21 (15%) 9 (7%) Anxiety 20 (14%) 12 (9%) Chills 13 (9%) 5 (4%) Laboratory Abnormalities Hyperkalemia: blood potassium ≥5.5 mmol/L; Leukopenia: WBC <3000 cells/mm 3. Thrombocytopenia: platelet count <75,000 cells/mm 3. Hyperkalemia 81 (57%) 70 (51%) Leukopenia 89 (63%) 20 (15%) Thrombocytopenia 23 (16%) 7 (5%) Malignancies Six patients in the THYMOGLOBULIN group developed malignancies (Epstein-Barr virus-induced lymphoma of the cavum, Epstein-Barr virus-positive large B-cell lung lymphoma, Epstein-Barr virus-induced lymphoma of the brain, squamous cell carcinoma, renal cancer, and recurrent basal cell carcinoma). In the Active Comparator group, 1 patient developed renal cancer. Infections Infections occurred in 76% of THYMOGLOBULIN-treated patients (severe in 23%), and in 63% of Active Comparator-treated patients (severe in 15%). Infections occurring in ≥5% of the patients in either treatment group during the 12-month follow-up are summarized in Table 2. Urinary tract infection was the most frequent type of infection, and was reported as severe in 9% of THYMOGLOBULIN-treated patients and in 2% of Active Comparator-treated patients.

— FDA label: Thymoglobulin, Genzyme Corporation, effective June 24, 2026. This is part of the section. Read the full label on DailyMed →

Anti-thymocyte globulin (rabbit) drug interactions

Quoted from the “Drug Interactions” section of the FDA-approved label. Tell your pharmacist about every medicine, vitamin and herbal product you take.

No drug interaction studies have been performed. THYMOGLOBULIN can stimulate the production of antibodies that cross-react with rabbit immune globulins [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

— FDA label: Thymoglobulin, Genzyme Corporation, effective June 24, 2026. Read the full label on DailyMed →

Anti-thymocyte globulin (rabbit) dosage

Quoted from the “Dosage and Administration” section of the FDA-approved label. Your own dose is the one your doctor prescribes: do not change it on your own.

The first dose should be infused over at least 6 hours; doses on subsequent days should be infused over at least 4 hours. (2.2) Premedication with corticosteroids, acetaminophen, and/or an antihistamine prior to each infusion is recommended. (2.2) The THYMOGLOBULIN dose should be reduced by one-half if the white blood cell (WBC) count is between 2,000 and 3,000 cells/mm 3 or if the platelet count is between 50,000 and 75,000 cells/mm 3.

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Stopping THYMOGLOBULIN treatment should be considered if the WBC count falls below 2,000 cells/mm 3 or if the platelet count falls below 50,000 cells/mm 3. (2.3) Indication Dose Prophylaxis of acute rejection 1.5 mg/kg of body weight administered daily for 4 to 7 days Treatment of acute rejection 1.5 mg/kg of body weight administered daily for 7 to 14 days For complete dosing instructions, see full prescribing information. (2) 2.1 Dosing Information For intravenous use only Prophylaxis of Acute Rejection The recommended dosage of THYMOGLOBULIN for prophylaxis of acute rejection in patients receiving a kidney transplant is 1.5 mg/kg of body weight administered daily with the first dose initiated prior to reperfusion of the donor kidney. The usual duration of administration is 4 to 7 days. Treatment of Acute Rejection The recommended dosage of THYMOGLOBULIN for treatment of acute rejection in patients receiving a kidney transplant is 1.5 mg/kg of body weight administered daily for 7 to 14 days. Dosing for THYMOGLOBULIN is different from dosing for other anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) products because protein composition and concentrations vary depending on the source of ATG. The prescribing physician must ensure that the dose prescribed is appropriate for the ATG product being administered. 2.2 Recommended Dosing Regimen Administer the first dose of THYMOGLOBULIN over a minimum of 6 hours; administer doses on subsequent days over at least 4 hours [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)]. Premedicate with corticosteroids, acetaminophen, and/or an antihistamine 1 hour prior to each infusion of THYMOGLOBULIN to reduce the incidence and intensity of infusion-related reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) and Adverse Reactions (6.1)]. 2.3 Dose Modifications Monitor patients for adverse reactions during and after infusion. Monitor total white blood cell and platelet counts during and after THYMOGLOBULIN therapy. Reduce the THYMOGLOBULIN dose by one-half if the white blood cell (WBC) count is between 2,000 and 3,000 cells/mm 3 or if the platelet count is between 50,000 and 75,000 cells/mm 3. Consider stopping THYMOGLOBULIN treatment if the WBC count falls below 2,000 cells/mm 3 or if the platelet count falls below 50,000 cells/mm 3. 2.4 Recommended Concomitant Medication THYMOGLOBULIN is used with concomitant immunosuppressants. Administer prophylactic antifungal and antibacterial therapy if clinically indicated [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)].

— FDA label: Thymoglobulin, Genzyme Corporation, effective June 24, 2026. This is part of the section. Read the full label on DailyMed →

Anti-thymocyte globulin (rabbit) in pregnancy

Quoted from the pregnancy part of the FDA-approved label. Ask your doctor before you take any medicine while pregnant or planning a pregnancy.

Risk Summary Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with THYMOGLOBULIN. It is also not known whether THYMOGLOBULIN can cause fetal harm. THYMOGLOBULIN should be given to a pregnant woman only if the benefit outweighs the risk.

— FDA label: Thymoglobulin, Genzyme Corporation, effective June 24, 2026. Read the full label on DailyMed →

When Anti-thymocyte globulin (rabbit) should not be used

Quoted from the “Contraindications” section of the FDA-approved label.

THYMOGLOBULIN is contraindicated in patients with history of allergy or anaphylactic reaction to rabbit proteins or to any product excipients, or who have active acute or chronic infections that contraindicate any additional immunosuppression [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2, 5.4) and Adverse Reactions (6.2)].

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Allergy or anaphylactic reaction to rabbit proteins or to any product excipients, or active acute or chronic infections which contraindicate any additional immunosuppression (4)

— FDA label: Thymoglobulin, Genzyme Corporation, effective June 24, 2026. Read the full label on DailyMed →

Anti-thymocyte globulin (rabbit) overdose

Quoted from the “Overdosage” section of the FDA-approved label. If someone may have taken too much, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (or 911 in an emergency).

THYMOGLOBULIN overdosage may result in leukopenia (including lymphopenia and neutropenia) and/ or thrombocytopenia, which can be managed with dose reduction [see Dosage and Administration (2.1, 2.3)].

— FDA label: Thymoglobulin, Genzyme Corporation, effective June 24, 2026. Read the full label on DailyMed →

Forms and how it is given

Companies that list this medicine

Labelers in the FDA NDC Directory: the company named on the package (maker or distributor), with the number of prescription products.

• Genzyme Corporation1 product

FDA approval history

• BLA: Biologics License Application: how a biologic medicine (made from living cells) is approved.

Shortage status

The FDA drug shortage list does not show these products.

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Recalls

No recall linked to these products (by their NDC code) appears in the FDA enforcement reports.

Official identifiers

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Sources

1. FDA-approved label on DailyMed (National Library of Medicine) — Thymoglobulin, Genzyme Corporation, effective June 24, 2026; via openFDA, FDA data exported October 30, 2026, retrieved October 31, 2026
2. NDC Directory (openFDA) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), FDA data exported October 30, 2026, retrieved October 31, 2026
3. Drugs@FDA (openFDA) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), FDA data exported October 30, 2026, retrieved October 31, 2026
4. Drug recall enforcement reports (openFDA) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), FDA data exported October 27, 2026, retrieved October 31, 2026
5. Drug shortages (openFDA) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), FDA data exported October 30, 2026, retrieved October 31, 2026

openFDA data is provided by the FDA as is; it may be incomplete. Always rely on the label that comes with your medicine. FDA Enforcement Report search →

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