Zevalin (Ibritumomab tiuxetan) for Lymphoma

Overview
Zevalin is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Specifically, Zevalin is indicated for use in low-grade or follicular B-cell lymphoma that has relapsed or failed to respond to treatment, or newly diagnosed follicular NHL that has responded to a first round of chemotherapy. Zevalin is prescribed in combination with Rituxan. Zevalin is also known by its drug name, ibritumomab tiuxetan.

Zevalin is a type of immunotherapy. Zevalin is an antibody-isotope conjugate consisting of two parts. Ibritumomab is a biologic drug, a genetically engineered protein (antibody) that targets the CD20 protein on lymphoma cells. Tiuxetan is a radioactive isotope. In combination, the antibody delivers radiation directly to lymphoma cells, where it causes cell death.

How do I take it?
Zevalin is administered as a one-time intravenous injection following two intravenous infusions of Rituxan.

Zevalin comes in the form of a single-dose vial.

Side effects
The FDA-approved label for Zevalin lists common side effects including severe low blood cell counts, fatigue, cold and flu symptoms, nausea, abdominal pain, weakness, cough, diarrhea, and fever.

Rare but serious side effects listed for Zevalin can include life-threatening infusion reactions, the development of leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome (a blood cell disorder), and potentially fatal skin reactions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis. If Zevalin leaks into the skin or tissue at the injection site (a situation known as extravasation), it causes a painful inflammatory reaction.

For more details about this treatment, visit:

Zevalin — Acrotech
www.zevalin.com/patient

Immunotherapy for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma — American Cancer Society
www.cancer.org/cancer/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/trea...