How it is administered

Glofitamab is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion, meaning it is delivered directly into your vein through a drip. It comes in single-dose vials and is administered in a healthcare setting by a trained professional.

Before starting glofitamab, patients receive a single dose of another medication called obinutuzumab to help prepare the body. Glofitamab is then given in a step-up dosing schedule:

• Cycle 1, Day 8: 2.5 mg (first step-up dose)
• Cycle 1, Day 15: 10 mg (second step-up dose)
• Cycle 2 and onward (every 21 days): 30 mg (maintenance dose)

Patients are usually hospitalized during and for 24 hours after the first step-up dose to monitor for side effects.

How it works

Glofitamab is a type of bispecific antibody, which means it is designed to attach to two different targets at the same time. One part of glofitamab binds to CD20, a protein found on the surface of B cells (including many cancerous B cells in large B-cell lymphoma). The other part binds to CD3, a protein found on T cells, which are part of your immune system.

By bringing T cells close to B cells, glofitamab helps activate your immune system to attack and destroy the cancerous B cells. This process can lead to the reduction or elimination of lymphoma cells. Glofitamab has shown anti-tumor activity in studies involving patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), especially in those who have not responded to or have relapsed after other treatments.

Who Should take it

Glofitamab is intended for adult patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), not otherwise specified, or large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) arising from follicular lymphoma. It is used after patients have already tried at least two or more lines of systemic therapy (other cancer treatments) and the disease has not responded or has come back.

This medication is specifically for people whose lymphoma is difficult to treat with standard therapies, offering a new option when other treatments have not worked. Your doctor will determine if glofitamab is suitable for you based on your medical history and previous treatments.

Who should not take it

There are currently no absolute contraindications listed for glofitamab, meaning there are no specific situations where it should never be used. However, it should not be given to patients with an active infection until the infection has resolved.

Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant should not use glofitamab, as it may cause harm to an unborn baby. Women should use effective contraception during treatment and for one month after the last dose. Breastfeeding is also not recommended during treatment and for one month after the last dose. Always discuss your full medical history with your healthcare provider before starting glofitamab.

Commonly used with

Glofitamab is always started after pretreatment with obinutuzumab, which helps prepare your body and reduce the risk of certain side effects. Premedications such as acetaminophen, antihistamines, and corticosteroids (like dexamethasone) are also given before each dose to help prevent infusion-related reactions and cytokine release syndrome.

Your doctor may also recommend antiviral or antibiotic medications to prevent infections, depending on your risk factors.

Commonly tested with

In clinical studies, glofitamab has been tested in combination with obinutuzumab as a pretreatment. Other supportive medications, such as corticosteroids, acetaminophen, and antihistamines, are used to manage side effects during clinical trials.

Glofitamab is typically studied in patients who have already received other cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, CAR-T cell therapy, or stem cell transplantation.