Other Brands/Names

Adcetris.

How It Works

Brentuximab vedotin is an antibody–drug conjugate used in cancer therapy. It targets malignant cells and delivers a cytotoxic payload, thereby destroying cancer cells and helping control the disease.

Indications

• Used with other chemotherapy agents to treat Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

• Used with other chemotherapy agents to treat anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL; a non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma) and peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL; a non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma) in previously untreated patients.

• Treats systemic sALCL in patients who did not respond to prior chemotherapy.

• Treats certain forms of primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (pcALCL; a non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma) in patients previously treated with other therapies.

Contraindication

• History of allergy/hypersensitivity to brentuximab vedotin.

• Pregnancy: use effective contraception (consult your doctor to select a method suitable for your condition) during the course of treatments with this medicine and for at least 6 months after the final dose.

• Breastfeeding: do not breastfeed during the course of treatments and for 2 months after the last dose.

Side Effects

• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, or unusual tiredness may occur as the adverse effects of this medicine; inform your doctor if these symptoms persist or worsen.

• This medicine can increase blood sugar and may cause or aggravate diabetes. Report symptoms of hyperglycemia (such as increased hunger, thirst, urination, or unexplained weight loss) right away. If you have diabetes, monitor glucose as directed and share results with your clinician; adjustments to diabetes medication, exercise, or diet may be required.

• Seek medical attention promptly for serious effects, including: numbness/tingling sensation/weakness/pain in hands or feet, muscle weakness, signs of infection (fever, chills, persistent cough, sore throat), shortness of breath, easy bruising/bleeding, signs of liver disease (persistent nausea/vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, yellowing of eyes/skin, dark urine), severe diarrhea, severe constipation, black stools, or vomit resembling coffee grounds.

Types

This medicine is supplied as a powder for injection.

Dosage

The medicine is administered by intravenous infusion. The recommended dose of brentuximab vedotin is 1.8 mg/kg infused over 30 minutes every 3 weeks. Patients who remain stable or show improvement should receive at least 8 cycles and up to 16 cycles of therapy.

Safety

• Brentuximab vedotin may increase susceptibility to infection or worsen existing infections; avoid close contact with individuals who have contagious illnesses (for example, chickenpox, measles, influenza).
• Treatment of this medicine may also increase the risks of having progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare, untreatable brain infection that often results in death or severe disability. If you develop decreased strength on one side, trouble walking, loss of coordination/balance, headache, confusion, difficulty thinking clearly, memory problems, mood changes, speech difficulties, or changes in your vision, stop the treatments and contact your doctor immediately.
• Inform healthcare professionals that you are receiving brentuximab vedotin before any immunizations or vaccinations.
• This medicine can cause dizziness; do not drive any vehicles or operate machinery, or do anything that require your concentration until you can do so safely.

Drug Interactions

• Concomitant use with bleomycin or other immunosuppressive agents (such as natalizumab or rituximab) may increase the risk of serious adverse effects.

• Rifampin can decrease the effectiveness of brentuximab vedotin.

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