Dr. Kahl Discusses Polatuzumab Vedotin in Lymphoma

Brad Kahl, MD, professor in the Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Siteman Cancer Center, discusses the antibody drug conjugate (ADC) polatuzumab vedotin in lymphoma.

The CD79b humanized monoclonal antibody cleavable peptide linker polatuzumab vedotin is currently being investigated as a single agent, in combination with rituximab (Rituxan), and in combination with bendamustine and rituximab. Polatuzumab vedotin uses the Monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) payload, which is the same payload used in brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris), says Kahl.

The FDA granted a breakthrough therapy designation to polatuzumab vedotin for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in 2017. The European Medicines Agency also granted the ADC a priority medicines designation. There is an ongoing international phase III trial comparing rituximab (Rituxan), cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone versus rituximab, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin, plus polatuzumab vedotin.