Frequently asked questions about ZYNLONTA®
ZYNLONTA® is a prescription medicine called an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that contains both an antibodyᵃ and an anti-cancer drug. There are different ADCs that can target different types of cancer cells. ZYNLONTA® is an ADC that targets the cancer cells of DLBCL.
aAn antibody is a protein naturally produced by the body’s immune system, which can also be manufactured and given as a treatment.
ZYNLONTA® is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with certain types of large B-cell lymphoma that has come back (relapsed) or did not respond to previous treatment (refractory), including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not otherwise specified, DLBCL arising from low-grade lymphoma, and high-grade B-cell lymphoma, and who have already received two or more treatments for their cancer.
It is not known if ZYNLONTA® is safe and effective in children.
The approval of ZYNLONTA® is based on a type of response rate. There is an ongoing study to confirm the clinical benefit of ZYNLONTA.®
The ZYNLONTA® clinical trial included people with relapsed/refractory DLBCL who had already received a variety of therapies, including:
- chemotherapy
- CAR-T therapy
- stem cell transplant
Talk with your healthcare provider about your treatment.
Your healthcare provider will prescribe ZYNLONTA® in a dose that is right for you.
ZYNLONTA® is given by intravenous (IV) infusion by a trained healthcare provider at a clinic or infusion center.
You will receive an infusion once every 3 weeks.
Each infusion will last 30 minutes.
Your healthcare provider may give you medicine before each infusion to decrease your chance of side effects.
Your healthcare provider may stop your treatment, delay your treatment, or change your dose of ZYNLONTA® if you have severe side effects.
Your healthcare provider should do blood tests regularly to check for side effects of ZYNLONTA®.
Your healthcare provider will decide how many treatments you need.
Before every ZYNLONTA® treatment, you may be given a prescription steroid to take twice a day for 3 days, starting the day before your infusion. Your healthcare provider will determine if this is appropriate for you and may choose to give you the steroid as an oral medication or IV infusion.
The infusion of ZYNLONTA® takes about 30 minutes.
ZYNLONTA® may cause serious side effects, including:
- Fluid retention: Your body may hold too much fluid during treatment with ZYNLONTA®. This can be serious. Tell your healthcare provider if you experience new or worsening swelling or puffiness, weight gain, shortness of breath, or difficult, labored breathing.
- Low blood cell counts (platelets, red blood cells, and white blood cells): Low blood cell counts are common with ZYNLONTA® but can also be serious or severe. Your healthcare provider will monitor your blood counts during treatment with ZYNLONTA®. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or above, or any bruising or bleeding.
- Infections: Serious infections, including infections that can cause death, have happened in people treated with ZYNLONTA®. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have new or worsening signs or symptoms of infection, including fever, chills, flu-like symptoms (cough, tiredness or weakness, and body aches), headache, breathing problems, or cuts or scrapes that are red, warm, swollen or painful
- Skin Reactions: Serious skin reactions have happened in people treated with ZYNLONTA®. Tell your healthcare provider if you get new or worsening skin reactions, including sensitivity to sunlight, skin rash, peeling, redness or irritation. You may burn more easily or get severe sunburns.
For more information on serious side effects, read the Important Safety Information.
The most common side effects of ZYNLONTA® include:
- feeling tired or weak
- nausea
- muscle or joint pain
- skin rash
- swelling
- increase in blood sugar (hyperglycemia)
- changes in certain blood or laboratory tests
These are not all the possible side effects of ZYNLONTA®. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to ADC Therapeutics at 1-855-690-0340 or the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
If you have a serious side effect, your healthcare provider will explain how it will be managed.
Your healthcare provider may stop your treatment, delay your treatment, or change your dose of ZYNLONTA® if you have severe side effects.
A partial response means that the signs of cancer have been reduced.
Overall response includes both complete responses (signs of cancer have disappeared) and partial responses.
During treatment with ZYNLONTA®, your healthcare provider will monitor your blood counts and other laboratory tests through blood samples.
You will be monitored for infusion site reaction, infections, and skin reactions. You will also be monitored for new or worsening swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in your body’s tissues, cavities, or joints (edema or effusions).
You may also need CT scans to monitor your disease. Ask your healthcare provider for more details.
If you miss a ZYNLONTA® treatment, be sure to alert your healthcare provider immediately to discuss your options.
This may depend on the nature of your routine and how you respond to treatment.
You will receive ZYNLONTA® once every 3 weeks at a clinic or infusion center.
Talk to your healthcare provider for more information.
- The first place to find support is with your healthcare provider
- There are also resources available from ADC Therapeutics, the maker of ZYNLONTA®, through the ADVANCING Patient Support program
To learn more about personalized assistance and support available through ADVANCING Patient Support, visit ADVANCINGPatientSupport.com or call 1-855-690-0340.
To learn more about personalized assistance and support available through ADVANCING Patient Support, visit ADVANCINGPatientSupport.com or call 1-855-690-0340.