What are the side effects of vepotuzumab (POLIVY)?

Patients with diffuse largeB-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) have cancerous B cells, which are a type of white blood cell. The active substance in vedotin (POLIVY) Polatuzumab vedotin is made up of a monoclonal antibody (a protein) combined with a substance called monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE). Monoclonal antibodies attach to a protein called CD79b on B cells (including cancerous B cells). The process causesMMAE to be released within the B cells. MMAE prevents B cells from dividing and causes them to die.

Vepotolizumab affects the production of blood cells, combined with bendamustine and rituximab (may affect more than 3 in 10 people). The most common side effects are anemia (low red blood cell count), thrombocytopenia (low platelet count), neutropenia (low white blood cell count), fatigue , diarrhea, nausea, and fever, Severe side effects (which may affect up to 1 in 10 people) include febrile neutropenia (low white blood cell count with fever), fever, and pneumonia Vepotolizumab should not be given to patients with serious infections.

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.