Skip to content
ClinCalc Pro
Menu
Calculators Drugs Pathways AI Dx Donate Get the App
Antibody-Drug Conjugate (CD79b)

Polatuzumab Vedotin

Brand names: Polivy

Polatuzumab vedotin is an antibody-drug conjugate targeting CD79b, used with rituximab and bendamustine, or in other combinations, for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Dosing — being independently re-sourced

ClinCalc Pro is rebuilding its dose data from primary open sources — the manufacturer SmPC (eMC), the WHO Model Formulary and other official references — under clinician review. This drug's structured dose is not yet published here. Confirm all doses against the product SmPC and your local formulary before prescribing.

Clinical monograph

How it works

The anti-CD79b antibody delivers the microtubule-disrupting agent monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) into B cells, where it inhibits cell division and induces apoptosis of CD79b-expressing malignant cells.

Prescribing in practice

  • Peripheral neuropathy is a characteristic dose-limiting toxicity; assess at each cycle and interrupt, reduce or stop treatment if it worsens.
  • Serious infections, myelosuppression, infusion-related reactions and tumour lysis syndrome can occur, warranting appropriate prophylaxis and monitoring.
  • It is given by intravenous infusion as part of a combination regimen under specialist supervision in line with the SPC.

Monitoring

Monitor full blood count, for signs of infection and infusion reactions, and assess for peripheral neuropathy before each cycle.

Counselling the patient

  • Advise reporting numbness, tingling, weakness or burning in the hands or feet promptly.
  • Highlight the importance of reporting signs of infection given the risk of low blood counts.

Evidence & guidelines

The POLARIX and earlier GO29365 studies support polatuzumab vedotin combinations in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Reference: POLARIX trial (Tilly et al. NEJM 2022); NICE TA662; NICE TA862; MHRA SPC Polivy; GO29365 trial (Sehn et al. JCO 2020); Drug verified in RxNorm (NLM); confirm dosing against the manufacturer SPC (eMC). Verify against your local formulary and current prescribing references before prescribing. Monograph status: clinician-reviewed (2026-07-04).

Related

Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.

Calculators
Pathways