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Brentuximab vedotin

The ADC that made the modern field credible (2011), for Hodgkin lymphoma and CD30+ lymphomas.

Approved 2011 for relapsed Hodgkin and anaplastic large-cell lymphoma; first-line with AVD (ECHELON-1, OS benefit) and in paediatric Hodgkin. The vc-MMAE linker-payload it introduced was reused in enfortumab, polatuzumab, tisotumab, and disitamab vedotin.

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Payload: MMAE · 2D coordinates (no PubChem conformer)
PubChem
How it works, step by step · animated schematic, not to scale
Antibody-drug conjugate (ADC)
Mechanism, step by step
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1.Antibody binds CD30 on the tumour cell surface

Modality
ADC
Mechanism
Chimeric anti-CD30 IgG1 with MMAE.
Brand / code
Adcetris
Payload
MMAE, DAR ~4
Linker
mc-vc-PABC, cleavable
Dosing & schedule
Route
IV infusion
Schedule
1.8 mg/kg (max 180 mg) every 3 weeks; 1.2 mg/kg (max 120 mg) every 2 weeks with AVD
Dose modifications
G-CSF prophylaxis mandatory with AVD; hold for grade 2 neuropathy; contraindicated with bleomycin
Monitoring
Neuropathy, blood counts, PML symptoms, LFTs

Source: US prescribing information (DailyMed). Doses are for orientation; the current label governs.

Medicare
Part B (clinician-administered)

Given by infusion or injection in a clinic or hospital outpatient department, so it is a Part B drug: Medicare pays 80% after the Part B deductible and the patient owes 20% coinsurance, uncapped in Original Medicare unless a Medigap policy applies. HCPCS J9042.

Commercial insurance
covered with prior authorisation

Covered under the medical benefit with prior authorisation confirming diagnosis, biomarker status and line of therapy; site-of-care policies may steer infusions away from hospital outpatient departments.

20% Part B coinsurance on a high-cost infusion adds up quickly: Medigap Plan G or N, Medicare Advantage maximum out-of-pocket, Medicaid dual eligibility, or a charity fund are the usual buffers.

Sources: Medicare.gov: Chemotherapy · Medicare.gov: Prescription drugs (outpatient, Part B). Not medical or financial advice; verify with your plan.

NICE recommendedNICE TA446 · 2017SMC: accepted
Appraised for
CD30-positive Hodgkin lymphoma after autologous transplant or 2 prior therapies
Notes
Also systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (TA478) and CD30-positive cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (TA524).
NHS England
Routinely funded for the appraised indication (or via managed access)

Sources: NICE TA446 · SMC advice: brentuximab vedotin. Funding decisions are indication-specific and change monthly; verify with NICE and your treating team.

Regulatory

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  1. 19 Aug 2011ApprovalUS

    Accelerated approval, relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma and systemic ALCL source

  2. 17 Aug 2015ApprovalUS

    Post-transplant consolidation in Hodgkin lymphoma (AETHERA) source

  3. 20 Mar 2018ApprovalUS

    First-line stage III/IV Hodgkin lymphoma with AVD (ECHELON-1) source

  4. 16 Nov 2018ApprovalUS

    First-line CD30+ peripheral T-cell lymphoma with CHP (ECHELON-2) source

  5. 10 Nov 2022ApprovalUS

    Paediatric high-risk Hodgkin lymphoma source

Approvals

RegionYearIndication
US2011Relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma and systemic ALCL
US2018First-line stage III/IV Hodgkin lymphoma with AVD

Safety

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Toxicity profile
Adverse eventAny gradeGrade 3+
Neutropenia
91%
82%
Peripheral sensory neuropathy
65%
10%
Constipation
42%
2%
Nausea
40%
2%
Vomiting
33%
3%
Febrile neutropenia
19%
19%

ECHELON-1, A+AVD arm. Rates read from the US prescribing information. Blank cells mean the figure was not sourced, not that it is zero.

Cost & access

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Cost & access
CountryReimbursement
United StatesMedicare Part B (physician-administered); commercial plans per formulary
United KingdomNICE: recommended in CD30+ Hodgkin lymphoma settings (TA446, TA524) and first-line stage IV with AVD

List prices are manufacturer or Medicare figures where publicly disclosed; net prices after rebates are usually lower. Reimbursement changes; check the payer.

Trials

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ClinicalTrials.gov · phase 2/3
refreshed 2026-09-09
150 studies16 recruiting91 Phase 212 Phase 3
Search “Brentuximab vedotin” on ClinicalTrials.gov →
Counts are from a name search and may include unrelated studies; up to 100 studies are summarised.

Recruiting now (live from ClinicalTrials.gov)

Recruiting trials near you · live from ClinicalTrials.gov
Brentuximab vedotin
intervention: Brentuximab vedotin
Open on ClinicalTrials.gov →

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Key papers

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Latest papers

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Literature trend191 papers in the last 12 months+33% vs prior 12How this is computed
Latest papers · live from Europe PMC
Open in Europe PMC

Query for this drug: (TITLE:"Brentuximab vedotin" OR ABSTRACT:"Brentuximab vedotin" OR TITLE:"Adcetris" OR ABSTRACT:"Adcetris") AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about Brentuximab vedotin, not a curated reading list.

Connected

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