How it is administered

Mogamulizumab is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion. This means it is administered directly into your vein through a drip. The typical dosing schedule is 1 mg per kilogram of body weight, infused over at least 60 minutes. In the first 28-day cycle, it is given on days 1, 8, 15, and 22. For subsequent cycles, it is given on days 1 and 15 of each 28-day cycle. The medication is prepared by diluting it in a saline solution and should not be mixed with other drugs in the same IV line.

How it works

Mogamulizumab is a type of medicine called a monoclonal antibody. It is designed to recognize and attach to a protein called CCR4, which is found on the surface of certain cancerous T-cells and some normal immune cells. By binding to CCR4, mogamulizumab helps the body's immune system target and destroy these cancer cells through a process called antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). This process recruits other immune cells to attack and remove the targeted cells from the body.

CCR4 is often present on the surface of malignant T-cells in some blood cancers, such as mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome. By specifically targeting cells with this marker, mogamulizumab can help reduce the number of cancerous cells and slow the progression of the disease.

Who Should take it

Mogamulizumab is indicated for adults with certain types of blood cancers, specifically relapsed or refractory mycosis fungoides (MF) or Sézary syndrome (SS), after they have already received at least one prior systemic therapy. These are rare types of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas, which are cancers that start in the skin but can affect other organs.

If you have been diagnosed with one of these conditions and your disease has not responded to previous treatments, your doctor may consider mogamulizumab as a treatment option. It is not approved for use in other types of blood cancers or in patients who have not received prior therapy.

Who should not take it

There are no absolute contraindications listed for mogamulizumab. However, caution is advised in certain situations. Patients with a history of severe allergic reactions to monoclonal antibodies or any of the ingredients in mogamulizumab should discuss this with their doctor.

Patients with active autoimmune diseases, active infections, or those who have recently undergone certain types of stem cell transplants may need special consideration. The safety and effectiveness of mogamulizumab have not been established in children. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not use mogamulizumab unless specifically advised by their doctor, as its effects on unborn or nursing babies are not fully known.

Commonly used with

Mogamulizumab is generally used as a single agent for the treatment of relapsed or refractory mycosis fungoides or Sézary syndrome. It is not typically combined with other chemotherapy or immunotherapy agents in this setting, but your doctor may recommend supportive medications to manage side effects, such as antihistamines and acetaminophen to prevent infusion reactions.

Commonly tested with

In clinical trials, mogamulizumab has been compared to other systemic therapies, such as vorinostat, for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas. It is not commonly tested in combination with other blood cancer medications, but may be studied alongside supportive treatments to manage side effects or complications.