Adcetris (brentuximab vedotin) is a brand-name drug that’s prescribed for certain lymphomas in adults and some children. It’s typically given via intravenous infusion every 2 or 3 weeks by a healthcare professional.

Adcetris treats several kinds of lymphoma (a blood cell-related cancer of the lymphatic system). It’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat:

Adcetris is a biologic and belongs to a drug class called antibody-drug conjugates (ADC). ADCs are targeted therapies linking an antibody with an agent that may help clear the cancer. Adcetris isn’t available in a biosimilar version.

Keep reading for specific information about the dosage of Adcetris, including its strength and how the medication is given. For a comprehensive look at Adcetris, see this article.

Note: This article describes typical dosages for Adcetris provided by the drug’s manufacturer. However, your doctor will prescribe the Adcetris dosage that’s right for you.

Below is information about the drug’s form, strength, and dosages.

Adcetris form

Adcetris comes as a powder in a single-dose vial. The powder is mixed with liquid to form a solution. The solution is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion by a healthcare professional, usually in a clinic.

Adcetris strength

Adcetris comes in one strength of 50 milligrams (mg).

Typical dosages

The following information describes dosages that are commonly prescribed in adults. However, your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs. For more information about your specific dosage, talk with your doctor.

For Adcetris, dosing is based on body weight measured in kilograms (kg). One kg is about 2.2 pounds (lb). The dosing is written as milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg). A weight of 100 kg is used to calculate the dosing of people weighing more than 100 kg.

Dosage for classical Hodgkin lymphoma

Doctors may prescribe Adcetris to treat cHL in certain cases. The drug is sometimes prescribed with other medications for this purpose.

Stage 3 or stage 4 cHL that hasn’t been treated yet

Adcetris is prescribed with chemotherapy for stage 3 or stage 4 cHL that hasn’t been treated yet. The typical dose for this use is 1.2 mg/kg, up to a maximum of 120 mg per dose. It’s usually given every 2 weeks. If it’s working, it’s continued for up to a total of 12 doses or until Adcetris causes side effects that are bothersome or severe.

cHL at high risk of returning or worsening after a stem cell transplant

The typical dose for cHL at high risk of returning or worsening after stem cell transplant is 1.8 mg/kg, up to a maximum of 180 mg per dose. It’s started upon recovery from the stem cell transplant or 4 to 6 weeks after the transplant is done. It’s usually given every 3 weeks. If it’s working, it’s continued for up to a total of 16 doses or until Adcetris causes side effects that are bothersome or severe.

Relapsed cHL

Relapsed cHL includes cHL that has returned after a stem cell transplant or cHL that has returned after two multi-drug chemotherapy courses in lieu of a stem cell transplant. The typical dose for this use is 1.8 mg/kg, up to a maximum of 180 mg per dose. It’s usually given every 3 weeks. If it’s working, it’s continued until Adcetris causes side effects that are bothersome or severe.

Dosage for T-cell lymphoma

Adcetris is also approved to help treat certain cases of T-cell lymphoma. The drug is sometimes taken with other medications for this purpose.

Systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL) or another CD30-expressing peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) that hasn’t been treated yet

Adcetris is prescribed with chemotherapy for treating sALCL or another CD30-expressing PTCL that hasn’t been treated yet. The typical dose is 1.8 mg/kg, up to a maximum of 180 mg per dose. It’s usually given every 3 weeks for 6 to 8 doses.

Relapsed sALCL

Relapsed sALCL refers to sALCL that has come back after at least one multi-drug chemotherapy treatment. The typical dose is 1.8 mg/kg, up to a maximum of 180 mg per dose. It’s usually given every 3 weeks. If it’s working, it’s continued until Adcetris causes side effects that are bothersome or severe.

Relapsed pcALCL or CD30-expressing MF

Relapsed pcALCL or CD30-expressing MF is pcALCL or CD30-expressing MF that has returned after medication therapy that affects the whole body. The typical dose is 1.8 mg/kg, up to a maximum of 180 mg per dose. It’s usually given every 3 weeks. If it’s working, it’s continued for up to a total of 16 doses or until Adcetris causes side effects that are bothersome or severe.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about your dosage.

Children’s dosage

Adcetris is approved to treat cHL that hasn’t been treated yet in children ages 2 years and older. It’s prescribed with chemotherapy in this case. The recommended Adcetris dose is 1.8 mg/kg, up to a maximum of 180 mg per dose. It’s usually given every 3 weeks with chemotherapy for a maximum of 5 doses.

As with adults, the dosage is based on body weight in kg and is calculated by your child’s doctor.

Talk with your child’s doctor if you have questions about their dosage.

Long-term treatment

Adcetris is meant to be given as a long-term treatment. However, how long you receive it depends on several factors. These include whether the drug is working, whether the drug is causing side effects that are bothersome or severe, and the condition that needs treatment. Certain conditions have a maximum amount of doses for Adcetris. (See the “Typical dosages” section above for details.)

If you and your doctor determine that Adcetris is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely receive it as long as your doctor advises. Before you start receiving it, your doctor will discuss a treatment plan with you.

The Adcetris dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:

  • your body weight (in kg)
  • how your body responds to Adcetris
  • how your cancer responds to Adcetris
  • the condition you’re receiving Adcetris to treat
  • other medications you take
  • certain side effects you may have, such as nerve damage or low counts of certain white blood cells
  • your liver function

Dosage adjustments

Your doctor may pause or stop Adcetris for symptoms of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Adcentris has a boxed warning about the risk of PML. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. For more information, see “FDA warnings” at the beginning of this article.

Your doctor may also lower your dose, pause, or stop the drug if you experience certain side effects. Examples of these side effects include nerve damage or certain low white blood cell levels. They may also delay doses if you’re experiencing trouble breathing, vomiting, tingling, or have an infection.

Your doctor may also reduce your dose or pause or stop treatment if you have liver damage.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about your dose of Adcentris.

Your doctor or healthcare professional will give you the IV infusion of Adcetris. You’ll likely receive it every 2 or 3 weeks at an office, clinic, infusion center, or hospital. The visit is longer, but the infusion takes about 30 minutes. Some people get chemotherapy at the same visit. It’s important to attend all infusion visits and testing visits.

If you have questions about how Adcetris is given, talk with your doctor. There’s also information on what to expect during treatment on the manufacturer’s website.

If you miss your appointment for an Adcetris infusion, call your doctor as soon as possible to reschedule. For help remembering appointments, write calendar reminders or use a reminder app on your phone.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.