Brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris®) has been listed on the PBS for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma.

From 1st April the antibody-drug conjugate will be available to patients who: have relapsed or were refractory after having undergone an autologous stem-cell-transplantation (ASCT); or have relapsed or were refractory after at least two prior treatments and are not suitable for an ASCT or multi-agent chemotherapy.  

Welcoming the listing CEO of Lymphoma Australia, Sharon Winton said life expectancy could be low for people with Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) who do not respond to current therapies

“This can have a huge emotional impact, not just for people with cancer, but also for their families and friends,” she said in a company press release.

According to Professor Mark Hertzberg from the Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick , the listing of Adcetris® gave patients “a chance of remission and long-term survival.”

Made by Takeda, Adcetris® is already listed on the PBS for the treatment of relapsed or refractory Systemic Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (sALCL).