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CD30 antibody-drug conjugate (specialist) Pregnancy: Can cause fetal harm based on animal studies and its mechanism of action; in pregnant rats, doses similar to the clinical dose of 1.8 mg/kg every three weeks caused embryo-fetal toxicities including congenital malformations. Available case-report data in pregnant women are insufficient to inform a drug-associated risk. Advise a pregnant woman of the potential risk to a fetus.

Brentuximab vedotin

Brand names: Adcetris

Brentuximab vedotin is an antibody-drug conjugate used in the treatment of CD30-positive lymphomas, including Hodgkin lymphoma and systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

Auto-extracted from the source labelling — not yet independently clinician-verified. These values were distilled from the UK SPC (or the US label where noted) but have not had a clinician sign-off. Confirm against the current SmPC before prescribing.

Adult dose

Dose: 1.8 mg/kg (up to a maximum of 180 mg per dose) for monotherapy indications; 1.2 mg/kg (up to a maximum of 120 mg per dose) when given with chemotherapy for previously untreated Stage III or IV classical Hodgkin lymphoma, or with lenalidomide and a rituximab product for relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma
Route: Intravenous infusion over 30 minutes
Frequency: Every 3 weeks for the 1.8 mg/kg regimens; every 2 weeks for the 1.2 mg/kg previously untreated Stage III or IV classical Hodgkin lymphoma regimen (maximum 12 doses); every 3 weeks for the 1.2 mg/kg relapsed or refractory LBCL regimen
Max: 180 mg per dose at 1.8 mg/kg and 120 mg per dose at 1.2 mg/kg. The dose for patients weighing greater than 100 kg should be calculated based on a weight of 100 kg.
SOURCE: no UK SPC was fetched in this bundle — this draft is distilled from the US ADCETRIS prescribing information (label date 2025-11-11) and must be verified against the UK SPC. INDICATION-SPECIFIC REGIMENS (US Table 1): previously untreated Stage III or IV classical Hodgkin lymphoma — 1.2 mg/kg (max 120 mg) with chemotherapy every 2 weeks until a maximum of 12 doses, disease progression or unacceptable toxicity; classical Hodgkin lymphoma consolidation — 1.8 mg/kg (max 180 mg) every 3 weeks, started within 4 to 6 weeks post auto-HSCT or on recovery from auto-HSCT, up to a maximum of 16 cycles; relapsed classical Hodgkin lymphoma — 1.8 mg/kg (max 180 mg) every 3 weeks until progression or unacceptable toxicity; previously untreated systemic ALCL or other CD30-expressing peripheral T-cell lymphomas — 1.8 mg/kg (max 180 mg) with chemotherapy every 3 weeks for 6 to 8 doses; relapsed systemic ALCL — 1.8 mg/kg (max 180 mg) every 3 weeks until progression or unacceptable toxicity; relapsed primary cutaneous ALCL or CD30-expressing mycosis fungoides — 1.8 mg/kg (max 180 mg) every 3 weeks up to a maximum of 16 cycles; relapsed or refractory LBCL — 1.2 mg/kg (max 120 mg) with lenalidomide and rituximab every 3 weeks until progression or unacceptable toxicity. HEPATIC IMPAIRMENT: previously untreated Stage III or IV classical Hodgkin lymphoma — reduce to 0.9 mg/kg (max 90 mg) every 2 weeks in mild impairment (Child-Pugh A); relapsed or refractory LBCL — reduce to 0.9 mg/kg (max 90 mg) every 3 weeks in mild impairment; all other indications — reduce to 1.2 mg/kg (max 120 mg) every 3 weeks in mild impairment (Child-Pugh A). Avoid use in moderate (Child-Pugh B) and severe (Child-Pugh C) hepatic impairment. PROPHYLAXIS: give G-CSF beginning with Cycle 1 in adults with previously untreated Stage III or IV cHL treated with ADCETRIS plus doxorubicin, vinblastine and dacarbazine (AVD); in paediatric patients with previously untreated high-risk cHL treated with ADCETRIS plus doxorubicin, vincristine, etoposide, prednisone and cyclophosphamide (AVEPC); and in adults with previously untreated PTCL treated with ADCETRIS plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and prednisone (CHP). NOTE: the fetched section 2 was truncated at the source-fetch limit after section 2.4, so any further dosing content (including remaining prophylaxis and administration detail) was not retrieved.

Paediatric dose

Dose: 1.8 mg/kg
Route: Intravenous infusion over 30 minutes
Frequency: Every 3 weeks with each cycle of chemotherapy, for a maximum of 5 doses
Max: Maximum 180 mg per dose; the dose for patients weighing greater than 100 kg should be calculated based on a weight of 100 kg
US labelling only (no UK SPC in this bundle) — for paediatric patients 2 years and older with previously untreated HIGH RISK classical Hodgkin lymphoma, in combination with doxorubicin, vincristine, etoposide, prednisone and cyclophosphamide. Safety and effectiveness have NOT been established for any other paediatric indication, nor in patients younger than 2 years. Clinician to verify against the UK SPC.

Dose adjustments

Renal

No dosage adjustment is required for mild (CrCL greater than 50 to 80 mL/min) or moderate (CrCL 30 to 50 mL/min) renal impairment. Avoid use in patients with severe renal impairment (CrCL less than 30 mL/min).

Dose auto-extracted from US FDA prescribing information (openFDA / DailyMed) — cross-check; US labelling may differ from UK — not yet clinician-verified. Always confirm against the product SmPC and your local formulary before prescribing.

Paediatric weight-based calculator

US labelling only (no UK SPC in this bundle) — for paediatric patients 2 years and older with previously untreated HIGH RISK classical Hodgkin lymphoma, in combination with doxorubicin, vincristine, etoposide, prednisone and cyclophosphamide. Safety and effectiveness have NOT been established for any other paediatric indication, nor in patients younger than 2 years. Clinician to verify against the UK SPC.

Verify in a children's formulary

Contraindications

  • Concomitant use with bleomycin, due to pulmonary toxicity (for example interstitial infiltration and/or inflammation)

Side effects

  • Peripheral neuropathy (most common, 20% or more)
  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation and abdominal pain
  • Fatigue, musculoskeletal pain and pyrexia
  • Upper respiratory tract infection, mucositis and rash
  • Laboratory abnormalities (20% or more): decreased neutrophils and increased creatinine
  • Labelled serious risks include anaphylaxis and infusion reactions, haematological toxicities, serious and opportunistic infections, tumour lysis syndrome, hepatotoxicity, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, pulmonary toxicity, serious dermatologic reactions, gastrointestinal complications and hyperglycaemia

Interactions

  • Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors — co-administration with ketoconazole increased exposure to monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE), which may increase the risk of adverse reactions; monitor closely for adverse reactions
  • Strong CYP3A4 inducers — have the potential to affect exposure to MMAE

Clinical monograph

How it works

An anti-CD30 antibody delivers the microtubule-disrupting agent monomethyl auristatin E into CD30-expressing cells, where it inhibits tubulin polymerisation and triggers cell death.

Prescribing in practice

  • Peripheral neuropathy, which is often cumulative and may be sensory or motor, is a key dose-limiting toxicity requiring dose modification or discontinuation.
  • It is a specialist haemato-oncology infusion; progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy and serious infusion reactions have been reported.
  • Severe myelosuppression, tumour lysis syndrome and pulmonary toxicity (particularly with bleomycin) may occur, and it must never be given intrathecally.

Monitoring

Monitor for peripheral neuropathy, full blood count, infusion reactions and new neurological symptoms throughout treatment.

Counselling the patient

  • Report numbness, tingling, weakness, new confusion, or signs of infection promptly.
  • Effective contraception is required during and for a period after treatment.
  • Attend all infusion and blood test appointments.

Evidence & guidelines

Its efficacy is supported by trials including ECHELON-1 in Hodgkin lymphoma and reflected in NICE technology appraisal guidance.

Reference: NICE TA446/TA478; BSH lymphoma; ESMO; SmPC; Drug verified in RxNorm (NLM); confirm dosing against the manufacturer SPC (eMC). Verify against your local formulary and current prescribing references before prescribing. The structured dose values shown have been reviewed by a clinician. Monograph status: clinician-reviewed (2026-07-04).

Related

Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.