Targeted treatments and antibody therapies available for lymphoma

Targeted treatments and antibody therapies are used to treat many types of lymphoma. This information lists specific drugs that are currently approved to treat lymphoma, including who might have them, how they are taken and their main side effects.

We have separate information on how targeted treatments and antibody therapies work and on CAR-T cell therapy. We also have more information on the side effects of treatment, including tips on how to cope with them.

On this page

Use these links to find information on specific treatments.

Acalabrutinib

Bortezomib

Brentuximab vedotin

Epcoritamab

Glofitamab

Ibrutinib

Idelalisib

Lenalidomide

Loncastuximab tesirine

Mogamulizumab

Nivolumab

Obinutuzumab

Pembrolizumab

Polatuzumab vedotin

Rituximab

Venetoclax

Zanubrutinib

Acalabrutinib

Acalabrutinib is a type of targeted drug called a BTK inhibitor.

Who can have it?

Acalabrutinib is approved:

  • On its own for adults with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) who haven’t had treatment before if they have high-risk genetic mutations or if chemo-immunotherapy is not suitable for them.
  • Combined with obinutuzumab for adults with CLL/SLL who haven’t had treatment before. At present, it is not available on the NHS for this use.
  • On its own for adults with CLL/SLL that has come back or not responded to at least one previous course of treatment.

How do you have it?

Acalabrutinib is a capsule that you take by mouth twice a day. You carry on taking it unless your CLL/SLL gets worse or you develop side effects that are difficult to cope with.

What are the main side effects?

When side effects are listed as ‘very common’, it means that more than 1 in 10 people having the treatment get them. Many people do not get them. Side effects vary from person to person and it can be hard to predict how treatment might affect you.

The most common side effects of acalabrutinib are:

If you experience any side effects, tell your medical team. They can often prescribe things to help, or give you advice on how to cope.

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Bortezomib

Bortezomib is a type of targeted drug called a proteasome inhibitor.

Who can have it?

Bortezomib is approved for adults with mantle cell lymphoma who haven’t been treated before and who can’t have a stem cell transplant. In lymphoma treatment, it is usually given with rituximab and a combination of chemotherapy drugs.

How do you have it?

You have bortezomib as an injection into a vein (intravenous injection) or just under your skin (subcutaneous injection). You usually have it twice a week for 2 weeks followed by a week off. This is a treatment cycle. Most people have up to 8 cycles.

What are the main side effects?

When side effects are listed as ‘very common’, it means that more than 1 in 10 people having the treatment get them. Many people do not get them. Side effects vary from person to person and it can be hard to predict how treatment might affect you.

The most common side effects of bortezomib are:

If you experience any side effects, tell your medical team. They can often prescribe things to help, or give you advice on how to cope.

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Brentuximab vedotin

Brentuximab vedotin is a type of antibody therapy called an antibody–drug conjugate. It sticks to a protein called CD30.

Who can have it?

Brentuximab vedotin can only be used if your lymphoma cells make a protein called CD30. Cells from your biopsy sample might be tested for CD30 before you can have brentuximab vedotin.

Brentuximab vedotin is approved for:

How do you have it?

You have brentuximab vedotin through a drip into a vein. You have it every 2 to 3 weeks for up to 16 cycles.

What are the main side effects?

When side effects are listed as ‘very common’, it means that more than 1 in 10 people having the treatment get them. Many people do not get them. Side effects vary from person to person and it can be hard to predict how treatment might affect you.

The most common side effects of brentuximab vedotin are:

If you experience any side effects, tell your medical team. They can often prescribe things to help, or give you advice on how to cope.

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Epcoritamab

Epcoritamab is a type of bispecific antibody which binds to the CD20 protein on B cells and the CD3 protein on T cells.

Who can have it?

Epcoritamab is approved for:

How do you have it?

You have epcoritamab as an injection just underneath your skin (subcutaneously). You have pre-medication first, to help prevent any reactions to the medicine. Epcoritamab is given in 28-day cycles. 

The first cycle includes two lower (priming and intermediate doses) and two full doses. Cycles 2 and 3 include weekly doses. Cycles 4 to 9 include doses every two weeks. Cycle 10 onwards includes treatment every four weeks. You carry on having it unless your lymphoma gets worse or you develop side effects that are difficult to cope with.

What are the main side effects?

When side effects are listed as ‘very common’, it means that more than 1 in 10 people having the treatment get them. Many people do not get them. Side effects vary from person to person and it can be hard to predict how treatment might affect you.

The most common side effects of epcoritamab are:

A rarer side-effect is neurotoxicity known as ICANS (immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome). Symptoms include confusion, speech problems, difficulty writing, headaches and dizziness, shaking or tremor and movement difficulty. 

If you experience any side effects, tell your medical team. They can often prescribe things to help, or give you advice on how to cope.

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Glofitamab 

Glofitamab is a type of bispecific antibody which binds to the CD20 protein on B cells and the CD3 protein on T cells.

Who can have it?

Glofitamab is approved for:

How do you have it?

You have glofitamab as a drip into a vein (intravenous infusion) over a few hours. To reduce the risk of side effects one dose of obinutuzumab is given a week before the first dose of glofitamab. Glofitamab is then started at a low dose and increased in weekly step-up doses for 3 doses. Pre-medications including steroids are also given to reduce the risk of side effects. Once at the target dose the drug is given every 3 weeks. You can have up to 12 cycles of treatment depending on response and side effects in the initial cycles. 

Once at the target dose, the drug is given every 3 weeks. You can have up to 12 cycles of treatment depending on response and side effects. 

What are the main side effects?

When side effects are listed as ‘very common’, it means that more than 1 in 10 people having the treatment get them. Many people do not get them. Side effects vary from person to person and it can be hard to predict how treatment might affect you.

The most common side effects of glofitamab are:

A rarer side-effect is neurotoxicity known as ICANS (immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome). Symptoms include confusion, speech problems, difficulty writing, headaches and dizziness, shaking or tremor and movement difficulty. 

If you experience any side effects, tell your medical team. They can often prescribe things to help, or give you advice on how to cope.

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Ibrutinib

Ibrutinib is a type of targeted drug called a BTK inhibitor.

Who can have it?

Ibrutinib is approved:

  • On its own for adults with mantle cell lymphoma that has come back or not responded after a previous course of treatment.
  • On its own for adults with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL or SLL) who haven’t had treatment before and who have high-risk genetic mutations.
  • Combined with rituximab or obinutuzumab for adults with CLL/SLL who haven’t had treatment before. 
  • Combined with venetoclax for adults with CLL/SLL who haven’t had treatment before. 
  • On its own for adults with CLL/SLL who have had at least one previous course of treatment.
  • Combined with rituximab and chemotherapy for adults with CLL/SLL who have had at least one previous course of treatment. At present, it is not available on the NHS for this use.
  • On its own for adults with Waldenström’s macroglobulinaemia (WM) who have had one previous course of treatment.
  • On its own for adults with WM who can’t have chemo-immunotherapy. At present, it is not available on the NHS for this use.
  • Combined with rituximab for adults with WM. At present, it is available on the NHS in Scotland for this use in people who have had at least one previous course of treatment only. It is not currently available on the NHS for this use in other UK nations.

How do you have it?

You have ibrutinib as tablets that you take by mouth once a day. You carry on taking it unless your lymphoma gets worse or you develop side effects that are difficult to cope with.

What are the main side effects?

When side effects are listed as ‘very common’, it means that more than 1 in 10 people having the treatment get them. Many people do not get them. Side effects vary from person to person and it can be hard to predict how treatment might affect you.

The most common side effects of acalabrutinib are:

If you experience any side effects, tell your medical team. They can often prescribe things to help, or give you advice on how to cope.

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Idelalisib

Idelalisib is a type of targeted drug called a PI3K inhibitor.

Who can have it?

Idelalisib is approved:

  • Combined with rituximab for adults with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL or SLL) who haven’t had treatment before, have high-risk genetic mutations and can’t have any other treatments.
  • Combined with rituximab for adults with CLL/SLL that has come back or not responded to a previous course of treatment. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, it is available on the NHS for this use only if CLL/SLL came back within 24 months of a previous course of treatment. In Scotland, it is available on the NHS for this use only for people who can’t have chemo-immunotherapy.

How do you have it?

You have idelalisib as tablets that you take by mouth twice a day. You carry on taking it unless your lymphoma gets worse or you develop side effects that are difficult to cope with.

What are the main side effects?

When side effects are listed as ‘very common’, it means that more than 1 in 10 people having the treatment get them. Many people do not get them. Side effects vary from person to person and it can be hard to predict how treatment might affect you.

The most common side effects of idelalisib are:

  • infections
  • increased levels of lymphocytes in your blood (lymphocytosis) – although this does not normally cause any problems
  • low neutrophil count (neutropenia)
  • diarrhoea
  • skin rash
  • fever
  • changes in your liver function (found on blood tests).

If you experience any side effects, tell your medical team. They can often prescribe things to help, or give you advice on how to cope.

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Lenalidomide

Lenalidomide is a type of targeted drug called an immunomodulator.

Who can have it?

Lenalidomide is approved:

  • With rituximab for adults with follicular lymphoma that has come back or not responded after previous treatment.
  • On its own for adults with mantle cell lymphoma that has come back or not responded after previous treatment. It is not currently available on the NHS for this use.

How do you have it?

You have lenalidomide as tablets that you take once a day for 21 days, followed by 7 days without treatment in each 28-day cycle. You usually have up to 12 cycles of treatment.

What are the main side effects?

When side effects are listed as ‘very common’, it means that more than 1 in 10 people having the treatment get them. Many people do not get them. Side effects vary from person to person and it can be hard to predict how treatment might affect you.

The most common side effects of lenalidomide are:

If you experience any side effects, tell your medical team. They can often prescribe things to help, or give you advice on how to cope.

You must not take lenalidomide if you are pregnant, and you must not become pregnant whilst taking lenalidomide, as it is expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. This means you must use effective methods of contraception while on this treatment if you or your partner could become pregnant. Your medical team will discuss this with you.

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Loncastuximab tesirine

Loncastuximab tesirine is a is a type of antibody therapy called an antibody–drug conjugate. It sticks to a protein called CD19 delivering a small dose of chemotherapy directly to the cancer cells.

Who can have it?

Loncastuximab tesirine is approved for:

How do you have it?

You have loncastuximab tesirine through a drip into a vein over a period of 30 minutes. During treatment with loncastuximab tesirine you will also be given a steroid to help reduce side effects of treatment. You take dexamethasone either by mouth or through a drip into your vein twice a day for three days, beginning the day before you receive loncastuximab tesirine treatment.

What are the main side effects?

When side effects are listed as ‘very common’, it means that more than 1 in 10 people having the treatment get them. Many people do not get them. Side effects vary from person to person and it can be hard to predict how treatment might affect you.

The most common side effects of loncastuximab tesirine are:

If you experience any side effects, tell your medical team. They can often prescribe things to help, or give you advice on how to cope.

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Mogamulizumab

Mogamulizumab is a monoclonal antibody therapy that sticks to a protein called CCR4.

Who can have it?

Mogamulizumab is approved for:

  • adults with Sézary syndrome who have had at least one previous course of whole body (systemic) treatment
  • adults with  mycosis fungoides that is stage 2B or above, and who have had at least two previous courses of whole body treatment.

 It is currently available on the NHS in Scotland only for people who can’t have, or have not responded to, treatment with brentuximab vedotin. 

How do you have it?

You have mogamulizumab through a drip into a vein. You have it every week at first, and then every 2 weeks. You carry on having it unless your lymphoma gets worse or you develop side effects that are difficult to cope with.

What are the main side effects?

When side effects are listed as ‘very common’, it means that more than 1 in 10 people having the treatment get them. Many people do not get them. Side effects vary from person to person and it can be hard to predict how treatment might affect you.

The most common side effects of mogamulizumab are:

If you experience any side effects, tell your medical team. They can often prescribe things to help, or give you advice on how to cope.

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Nivolumab

Nivolumab is a type of targeted antibody therapy called a checkpoint inhibitor.

Who can have it?

Nivolumab is approved for adults with Hodgkin lymphoma that has come back or not responded after a stem cell transplant and a course of brentuximab vedotin.

How do you have it?

You have nivolumab through a drip into a vein every 2 weeks. You carry on having it unless your lymphoma gets worse or you develop side effects that are difficult to cope with.

What are the main side effects?

When side effects are listed as ‘very common’, it means that more than 1 in 10 people having the treatment get them. Many people do not get them. Side effects vary from person to person and it can be hard to predict how treatment might affect you.

The most common side effects of nivolumab are:

If you experience any side effects, tell your medical team. They can often prescribe things to help, or give you advice on how to cope.

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Obinutuzumab

Obinutuzumab is a monoclonal antibody therapy that sticks to a protein called CD20.

Who can have it?

Obinutuzumab is approved:

  • Combined with an oral chemotherapy drug called chlorambucil for adults with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL or SLL) who haven’t had treatment before and who can’t have standard doses of chemotherapy.
  • Combined with a targeted drug called venetoclax for adults with CLL/SLL who have not been treated before.
  • Combined with chemotherapy for adults with advanced follicular lymphoma who haven’t had treatment before. It is not currently available on the NHS in Scotland for this use but it is available in the other UK nations.
  • Combined with a chemotherapy drug called bendamustine for adults with follicular lymphoma that has come back or not responded within 6 months of treatment that included rituximab.
  • On its own as maintenance therapy for adults with follicular lymphoma who responded to treatment.

How do you have it?

You have obinutuzumab through a drip into a vein. You have pre-medication first, to help prevent any reactions to the medicine.

You usually have obinutuzumab once every 3 or 4 weeks. You might have it more frequently during your first month of treatment. You have 6 to 8 cycles of treatment.

People with follicular lymphoma might have obinutuzumab maintenance therapy after finishing their course of treatment. It is given every 8 weeks in this setting, with the aim of helping their remission last as long as possible.

What are the main side effects?

When side effects are listed as ‘very common’, it means that more than 1 in 10 people having the treatment get them. Many people do not get them. Side effects vary from person to person and it can be hard to predict how treatment might affect you.

The most common side effects of obinutuzumab are:

If you experience any side effects, tell your medical team. They can often prescribe things to help, or give you advice on how to cope.

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Pembrolizumab

Pembrolizumab is a type of targeted drug called a checkpoint inhibitor.

Who can have it?

Pembrolizumab is approved for adults and children over 3 who have relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma who have had at least 2 previous treatments and cannot have an autologous stem cell transplant. Pembrolizumab is available as a treatment option only if previously treated with brentuximab vedotin. 

How do you have it?

You have pembrolizumab through a drip into a vein every 3 to 6 weeks. You carry on having it unless your lymphoma gets worse or you develop side effects that are difficult to cope with. At present, if you are having pembrolizumab on the NHS, you can have treatment for up to 2 years.

What are the main side effects?

When side effects are listed as ‘very common’, it means that more than 1 in 10 people having the treatment get them. Many people do not get them. Side effects vary from person to person and it can be hard to predict how treatment might affect you.

The most common side effects of pembrolizumab are:

If you experience any side effects, tell your medical team. They can often prescribe things to help, or give you advice on how to cope.

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Polatuzumab vedotin

Polatuzumab vedotin is a type of antibody therapy called an antibody–drug conjugate. It sticks to a protein called CD79b and delivers a small dose of chemotherapy into the cancer cells.

Who can have it?

Polatuzumab vedotin is approved for:

  • Adults with previously untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) with an International Prognostic Index (IPI) of 2 to 5. The IPI is a tool used by your healthcare team to aid in predicting the likely outcome of treatment. Polatuzumab vedotin is given with rituximab and the chemotherapy regimen known as CHP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone).
  • Adults with DLBCL that has come back or not responded to previous treatment and who can’t have a stem cell transplant. It is given with rituximab and a chemotherapy drug called bendamustine.

How do you have it?

You have polatuzumab vedotin through a drip into a vein once every 21 days. You have pre-medication first, to help prevent any reactions to the medicine. You have up to six cycles of treatment.

What are the main side effects?

When side effects are listed as ‘very common’, it means that more than 1 in 10 people having the treatment get them. Many people do not get them. Side effects vary from person to person and it can be hard to predict how treatment might affect you.

The most common side effects of polatuzumab vedotin are:

If you experience any side effects, tell your medical team. They can often prescribe things to help, or give you advice on how to cope.

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Rituximab

Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody therapy that sticks to a protein called CD20. This is the most commonly used targeted therapy for B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma and was one of the first targeted therapies to be used in cancer medicine.

Who can have it?

Rituximab is approved:

It is also widely used to treat other types of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma and nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL).

How do you have it?

You have rituximab through a drip into a vein (intravenously) or as an injection just underneath your skin (subcutaneously). You have pre-medication first, to help prevent any reactions to the medicine. You have your first dose very slowly, so your medical team can check for any reactions.

You usually have rituximab once every 3 or 4 weeks, although this varies depending on the type of lymphoma you have and any chemotherapy drugs you are having (if any). Most people have up to 8 cycles of treatment.

If you are having rituximab as maintenance therapy for follicular lymphoma, you have it once every 2 to 3 months for up to 2 years. If you are having rituximab as maintenance therapy for mantle cell lymphoma, you might have it once every 2 months for 3 years or more.

What are the main side effects?

When side effects are listed as ‘very common’, it means that more than 1 in 10 people having the treatment get them. Many people do not get them. Side effects vary from person to person and it can be hard to predict how treatment might affect you.

The most common side effects of rituximab are:

If you experience any side effects, tell your medical team. They can often prescribe things to help, or give you advice on how to cope.

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Venetoclax

Venetoclax is a type of targeted drug called a BCL-2 inhibitor.

Who can have it?

Venetoclax is approved:

  • Combined with obinutuzumab for adults with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) who have not been treated before. In Scotland, this combination is currently only available on the NHS for adults with CLL/SLL with genetic changes that mean they’re at high risk of relapse, or adults without high-risk genetic changes who can’t have chemo-immunotherapy. In England, Northern Ireland and Wales, it is available for adults with CLL who have not been treated before regardless of genetic changes or suitability for other treatments.
  • Combined with ibrutinib for adults with CLL/SLL who haven't had treatment before.
  • Combined with rituximab for adults with CLL/SLL who have had at least one previous course of treatment.
  • On its own for adults with CLL/SLL with genetic changes that mean they’re at high risk of relapse and who either can’t have treatment with a B-cell receptor inhibitor, or whose CLL/SLL has not responded to B-cell receptor inhibitor treatment.
  • On its own for adults with CLL/SLL that has come back after treatment with chemo-immunotherapy (chemotherapy combined with antibody therapy) and a B-cell receptor pathway inhibitor.

How do you have it?

You have venetoclax as tablets that you take by mouth once a day. The dose is slowly increased over the first 5 weeks. If you’re having it on its own, you carry on taking it unless your lymphoma gets worse or you develop side effects that are difficult to cope with. If you’re having it with rituximab or obinutuzumab, you usually carry on taking it for 1 to 2 years.

What are the main side effects?

When side effects are listed as ‘very common’, it means that more than 1 in 10 people having the treatment get them. Many people do not get them. Side effects vary from person to person and it can be hard to predict how treatment might affect you.

The most common side effects of venetoclax are:

If you experience any side effects, tell your medical team. They can often prescribe things to help, or give you advice on how to cope.

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Zanubrutinib

Zanubrutinib is a type of targeted drug called a BTK inhibitor.

Who can have it?

Zanubrutinib is approved:

  • On its own for adults with Waldenström’s macroglobulinaemia (WM) that has come back or not responded after at least one previous course of treatment. 
  • On its own for adults with WM who have not had treatment before and who can’t have chemo-immunotherapy. 
  • For adults with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) who have not had treatment before where there is either:
    • a 17p deletion or tumour protein 53 (TP53) mutation, or 
    • no 17p deletion or TP53 mutation, and treatment with a chemo-immunotherapy regimen (fludarabine plus cyclophosphamide and rituximab, or bendamustine plus rituximab) is unsuitable.
  • For adults with CLL that has come back or not responded after at least one previous course of treatment.
  • For adults with marginal zone lymphoma (extranodal, nodal and splenic) that has come back or not responded to at least one anti-CD20 based treatment.

How do you have it?

Zanubrutinib is a capsule that you take by mouth once or twice a day. You carry on taking it unless your lymphoma gets worse or you develop side effects that are difficult to cope with.

What are the main side effects?

When side effects are listed as ‘very common’, it means that more than 1 in 10 people having the treatment get them. Many people do not get them. Side effects vary from person to person and it can be hard to predict how treatment might affect you.

The most common side effects of zanubrutinib are:

If you experience any side effects, tell your medical team. They can often prescribe things to help, or give you advice on how to cope.

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Further reading

Related content

Macmillan

Macmillan Cancer Support have an A to Z of cancer treatments that includes details of many targeted treatments and antibody therapies.

Macmillan