Brentuximab (Intravenous)

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 13, 2022.

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Adcetris

Available Dosage Forms:

• Powder for Solution

Therapeutic Class: Antineoplastic Agent

Pharmacologic Class: Mitotic Inhibitor

Uses for brentuximab

Brentuximab injection is used to treat Hodgkin lymphoma, systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL), and primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (pcALCL), which are blood cancers. It is given to patients who have received a bone marrow (autologous stem cell) transplant or other cancer treatments that did not work well.

Brentuximab injection is also used together with other cancer medicines (eg, doxorubicin, vinblastine, dacarbazine) to treat a previously untreated stage III or IV classical Hodgkin lymphoma.

Brentuximab injection is also used together with other medicines (eg, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, prednisone) to treat patients with previously untreated sALCL or other CD30-expressing peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL), including angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma and PTCL.

Brentuximab interferes with the growth of cancer cells, which are then destroyed by the body.

Brentuximab is to be given only by or under the direct supervision of your doctor.

Before using brentuximab

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For brentuximab, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to brentuximab or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of brentuximab injection in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of brentuximab injection in the elderly.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving brentuximab, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using brentuximab with any of the following medicines is..