Alemtuzumab
From Ganfyd
rINN: Alemtuzumab
Other Names
MabCampath®,CamPath®
Pharmacological Information
Alemtuzumab in the:
BNF-registration required
BNF for children-registration required
Mechanism of Action
Specific for a 21-28 kD lymphocyte cell surface glycoprotein (CD52)
Other Issues for Alemtuzumab
Genetically engineered humanised Chinese Hamster IgG1 kappa monoclonal antibody
Relevant Clinical Literature
Systematic reviews from Pubmed
Other Literature
Please read pharmacological data limitations
Alemtuzumab is an engineered monoclonal antibody directed against CD52 - a leucocyte surface antigen. Administration effectively destroys leucocyte causing partial immunosuppression, an effect that is exploited in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, transplant rejection and certain types of haematological malignancies such as B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL).
Indications
- Given immediately after solid organ transplantation, it may attenuate host rejection, allowing less toxic combinations of maintenence immunosuppressants.
- Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) who have failed to achieve a complete or partial response to alkylating agents and or achieved only a short remission (less than 6 months) following fludarabine phosphate therapy. Recently extended to monotherapy.
Side-Effects
- Bronchospasm
- Allergy
- Severe lymphopenia and neutropenia
- Infections including[1]:
- Most viruses capable of reactivation like CMV[2] with potential for overwhelming infections
- Pneumonia including Pneumocystis jiroveci
- Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy
- Tuberculosis
- Autoimmune activation including:
- Interstitial pneumonitis
- Immune thrombocytopenic purpura
- Coagulopathy
In the lymphoma indication, the death rate due to therapy related complications is about 12%[3]
Manufacturers site: http://www.campath.com/
References
- ↑ Martin SI, Marty FM, Fiumara K, Treon SP, Gribben JG, Baden LR. Infectious complications associated with alemtuzumab use for lymphoproliferative disorders. Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. 2006 Jul 1; 43(1):16-24.(Link to article – subscription may be required.)
- ↑ Cheung WW, Tse E, Leung AY, Yuen KY, Kwong YL. Regular virologic surveillance showed very frequent cytomegalovirus reactivation in patients treated with alemtuzumab. American journal of hematology. 2007 Feb; 82(2):108-11.(Link to article – subscription may be required.)
- ↑ Hui D, Lam W, Toze C, Delorme M, Noble M, Klimo P, Sutherland J, Gill K, Connors J, Sehn L. Alemtuzumab in clinical practice: a British Columbia experience. Leukemia & lymphoma. 2008 Feb; 49(2):218-26.(Link to article – subscription may be required.)
