What happens if vepotuzumab (POLIVY) is used alone?

Vepotuzumab (POLIVY) is an antibody-drug conjugate indicated for the third-line treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory (r/r) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Vepotuzumab is usually not used alone but as part of a combination treatment regimen, possibly because velpotuzumab itself has some toxicity and may not be effective in controlling cancer or producing lasting effects when used alone.

In clinical trials, vepotuzumab is often used in combination with other drugs (such as chemotherapy drugs, immunotherapy, etc.) to improve the therapeutic effect. Combination therapy can simultaneously attack cancer cells through multiple pathways, enhance treatment effects, and reduce the development of drug resistance. If vepotuzumab is used alone, it may not be able to produce a strong enough anti-tumor effect on cancer cells and thus cannot effectively control disease progression. Vepotolizumab may cause serious side effects, such as cytotoxic reactions, liver toxicity, and neurological toxicity.

Vepotolizumab's patent medicine has been launched in China. Due to its short time on the market, it has not yet entered the scope of medical insurance. It is an injectable preparation. The price of 30 mg per box may be around RMB 10,000. The price of the Hong Kong version of 140 mg per box may be around RMB 60,000 (the price may fluctuate due to exchange rates) overseas. The price of the European version of vepotuzumab on the market, Specifications140 mg per box, may be around 90,000 yuan (the price may fluctuate due to the exchange rate). The ingredients of domestic original drugs are basically the same as those of foreign original drugs, and they are expensive. There are currently no generic versions of vepotuzumab on the market.