What is Arzerra used for and how does it work?

Drugs.com

Official answer

by Drugs.com

Arzerra (ofatumumab) is approved by the FDA to treat patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a type of slowly progressing cancer in your blood and bone marrow. In CLL, the white blood cells (lymphocytes) made by your bone marrow are damaged which can lead to an increased risk of infections. It may be used with other cancer treatments.

Specifically, Arzerra is used:

  • in combination with chlorambucil in untreated patients with CLL who cannot use fludarabine-based therapy.
  • in combination with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide for the treatment of patients with CLL that has come back (relapsed).
  • for extended treatment (maintenance) of patients with CLL who have had a complete or partial response after at least two lines of therapy for CLL.
  • for the treatment of patients with CLL who did not respond to previous treatment (refractory) to fludarabine and alemtuzumab.

    • It is given on various dosing schedules (cycles) as an intravenous (IV) infusion based on your diagnosis.

    Arzerra is manufactured by Novartis.

    What is the mechanism of action of Arzerra?

    Arzerra (ofatumumab) is in a class of medicines known as human monoclonal antibodies.

    Arzerra is designed to target (bind to) the CD20 molecule found on the surface of cancerous B cells and normal B lymphocytes. CD20 is a protein commonly found on the surface of cancer cells in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Arzerra can kill the cancer cells but may also attack healthy B cells in the body, which can lead to side effects.

    In conjunction with the immune system, Arzerra is thought to eliminate the cancerous CD20-positive B cells by two mechanisms: destroying the cancer cell through lysis (complement-dependent cytotoxicity) and by helping to release molecules from immune cells (like NK cells) that can enter and kill the cancer cell (antibody-dependent, cell-mediated cytotoxicity).

    These mechanisms kill the cancerous and healthy B cells. However, over time, healthy B cells are developed from blood-forming “stem cells” that reside in the bone marrow and then are released to the blood.

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

    Related medical questions

    Disclaimer

    Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

    The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

    Popular Keywords