Brentuximab vedotin found effective, safe in elderly Hodgkin lymphoma patients

Brentuximab vedotin is an effective and safe first course of treatment for older Hodgkin lymphoma patients unfit for chemotherapy, according to a study published on-line n Blood, the Journal of the American Society of Hematology.

The drug was developed and is marketed by US biotech firm Seattle Genetics (Nasdaq: SGEN) as Adcetris.

While standard chemotherapy can achieve complete remissions in younger Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) patients, the majority of those 60 and older are either ineligible or refuse treatment in order to avoid complications related to drug toxicity. As the rate of remission is much lower for older compared to younger HL patients, there is a clear need for less toxic treatments that allow patients 60 and older to complete their full regimen without complications or interruptions. Researchers suggest that one promising treatment is brentuximab vedotin, a therapy that targets HL cells and delivers a potent dose of chemotherapy without harming healthy cells. In previous studies, BV has achieved remissions in patients with relapsed or treatment-resistant disease.