Efficacy of vepotuzumab (POLIVY)

Vepotolizumab (POLIVY) is a cancer drug used to treat adults with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) whose cancer has returned or has stopped responding to other treatments and who are unable to undergo a bone marrow transplant. It is used in combination with two other drugs, bendamustine and rituximab. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is rare. Vepotuzumab was designated as an 'orphan drug' on April 16, 2018. It contains the active substance polatuzumab vedotin.

Vepotuzumab was investigated in a study involving 80 patients with DLBCL, with half receiving the standard regimen of velpotuzumab plus bendamustine plus rituximab, while the other half received bendamustine plus rituximab alone. After 6-8 weeks of treatment, 40% of patients who received velpotuzumab plus rituximab and bendamustine showed no signs of cancer (complete response).

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.