What is the success rate of Monjuvi?

In clinical studies, intravenous Monjuvi combined with oral lenalidomide led to a partial or complete response (overall response rate) in 55% of patients (39 of 71) with advanced diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who received treatment for up to 12 cycles. The median duration of response was 21.7 months.

Using Monjuvi and lenalidomide together can help treat DLBCL that has come back or did not respond to treatment.

• In trials, 37% of patients reached a complete response. Complete response means all signs of cancer have disappeared in response to treatment, but does not always mean the cancer has been cured.
• Also, 18% of people had partial response. Partial response is a decrease in the size of a tumor (usually by one-half in DLBCL), or in the extent of cancer in the body, in response to treatment.

Monjuvi (tafasitamab-cxix) plus Revimid (lenalidomide) was studied in 71 people whose DLBCL returned, worsened, or did not respond to treatment and who could also not receive a stem cell transplant. They received this combined treatment for up to 12 cycles (about a year), then they were given Monjuvi alone.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), a blood cancer, is the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in adults. It is characterized by aggressive growth of cancerous B-cells in the lymph nodes, spleen, liver, bone marrow or other organs. About 1 in 3 patients do not respond to initial therapy or relapse, and require additional treatment options.

This use is approved by the FDA under an accelerated approval based on overall response rate (an intermediate clinical endpoint). Continued approval of Monjuvi for DLBCL may depend upon results from additional clinical studies.

How do I receive Monjuvi?

Monjuvi is given as an infusion into your vein (intravenous infusion), which may take up to 2.5 hours to complete. A healthcare provider will give you this injection, usually at a clinic or local infusion center. It is used in combination with another medicine called lenalidomide.

You may receive other medicines before your infusion to help decrease your chance for a side effect like chills, fever, flushing, shortness of breath or headache. Keep using these medicines for as long as your doctor has prescribed. If you tolerate the infusion well, your doctor may decide to discontinue these extra medicines with later infusions.

If you miss any appointments, call your healthcare provider as soon as possible to reschedule your appointment.

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How many days are in the Monjuvi treatment cycle?

Monjuvi is given in a 28-day treatment cycle. A cycle is a period of medication treatment followed by a period of rest. You will receive medication on certain days of each 28-day cycle.

Monjuvi is given along with oral lenalidomide, another type of medicine that slows lymphoma cancer growth, blocks new blood vessel growth in tumors, and enables the immune system to fight cancer.

The normal treatment cycle for Monjuvi is as follows:

• You will receive Monjuvi on days 1, 4, 8, 15, and 22 during your first cycle (first 28 days).
• You will receive Monjuvi on days 1, 8, 15, and 22 during your second and third cycles (usually the 2nd and 3rd month).
• After your first 3 cycles, you will receive Monjuvi once every 2 weeks, on days 1 and 15.

Your healthcare provider will prescribe a 25 mg lenalidomide capsule for you to take on days 1 to 21 of each 28-day treatment cycle, for the first 12 cycles (the first year). Lenalidomide is taken as a capsule by mouth once daily.

After 12 cycles (usually about one year), you will receive only Monjuvi as maintenance therapy on days 1 and 15 of each cycle (each 28-day period). You will no longer take lenalidomide.

Monjuvi treatment is then normally continued until you have side effects you cannot tolerate or your disease progresses.

Your healthcare provider may need to delay or discontinue your treatment if you have severe side effects.

Possible side effects

The most common side effects you may have with Monjuvi treatment include

• Feeling tired or weak
• Diarrhea
• Cough
• Fever
• Swelling of lower legs or hands
• Respiratory tract infection
• Decreased appetite

More serious side effects are: infusion reactions, low blood cells counts (platelets, red blood cells, and white blood cells) and infections.

• Related: Review Monjuvi warnings, precautions and side effects (in more detail)

This is not all the information you need to know about Monjuvi (tafasitamab-cxix) 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.