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Is Adcetris a chemotherapy drug?

Medically reviewed by Leigh Ann Anderson, PharmD. Last updated on Feb 22, 2025.

Official Answer by Drugs.com

Adcetris is a targeted drug used to treat cancer but is not a traditional chemotherapy. Adcetris is made up of 3 parts:

Adcetris combines the antibody and cancer drug, allowing the antibody to direct the drug to a target on lymphoma cancer cells known as CD30. The cancer drug is monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE), which inhibits microtubule polymerization and leads to cell death.

What type of drug is Adcetris?

Adcetris is known as a CD30-directed Antibody Drug conjugate (ADC). It belongs to a group of targeted drug therapies called monoclonal antibodies.

What does Adcetris treat?

Adcetris (brentuximab vedotin) is a prescription drug used in adults and children to treat different types of blood cancers (lymphomas). Adcetris is used to treat certain forms of classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) and T-cell lymphomas (a form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma).

It is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion into your vein. Specifically Adcetris treats:

Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma:

Certain types of B-cell lymphoma in adults:

Certain types of T-cell lymphoma in adults:

This is not all the information you need to know about Adcetris (brentuximab vedotin) for safe and effective use and does not take the place of your doctor’s directions. Review the full prouct information and discuss this information and any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.

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References
  • Adcetris (brentuximab vedotin) prescribing information. Revised 2/2025. Accessed Feb 22, 2025 at https://labeling.pfizer.com/ShowLabeling.aspx?id=20629
  • Bradley AM, Devine M, DeRemer D. Brentuximab vedotin: an anti-CD30 antibody-drug conjugate. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2013 Apr 1;70(7):589-97. doi: 10.2146/ajhp110608. PMID: 23515511.

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