Zynlonta (loncastuximab tesirine or loncastuximab tesirine-lpyl) is used to treat adults with certain types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), such as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). It’s typically used after people have already tried other treatments. Zynlonta (loncastuximab tesirine) is a type of cancer medication called an antibody-drug conjugate. It’s given as an injection into the vein every 3 weeks at an infusion clinic or medical office. Side effects can include tiredness, low blood cell counts, and swelling from fluid buildup in the body.
Zynlonta (loncastuximab tesirine) is an antibody-drug conjugate. It’s made up of a few parts that work together to find and kill lymphoma cells in the body. It contains a monoclonal antibody and a chemotherapy medication.
| Common Brands | Zynlonta |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Antibody-drug conjugate |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | No lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
Zynlonta (loncastuximab tesirine) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Although uncommon, some people who were treated with Zynlonta (loncastuximab tesirine) developed swelling due to fluid buildup in the body. This swelling happened most commonly in the arms, legs, and belly. But other people had fluid around their lungs or heart, leading to chest pain and trouble breathing.
Your care team will monitor you during treatment for fluid buildup. Contact them right away if you notice symptoms like trouble breathing, chest pain, swollen ankles, or a swollen belly.
Zynlonta (loncastuximab tesirine) can cause you to have low blood cell counts. This means that your white blood cell counts, red blood cell counts, and platelet levels can drop while you're taking the medication.
You might get sick easier when you don’t have enough white blood cells since they’re important for helping your body fight infection. You’re also at risk for tiredness and anemia when you have low red blood cells. In addition, you’re at risk for bleeding when your platelets are low since there might not be enough platelets to help clot blood.
Your prescriber will check your blood counts with lab tests throughout your treatment with Zynlonta (loncastuximab tesirine). If your blood count is too low, your prescriber might pause your treatment or lower your dose. Sometimes, you might have to stop taking the medication altogether.
Some people who took Zynlonta (loncastuximab tesirine) developed infections, including opportunistic infections that typically only occur in people with weak immune systems. Some infections were serious and life-threatening.
You shouldn’t receive Zynlonta (loncastuximab tesirine) if you have an active infection, especially if it becomes serious. Contact your oncology team right away if you have signs or symptoms of an infection such as chills, severe tiredness, weakness, cough, or a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. You might have to wait until your infection goes away until you can get your Zynlonta (loncastuximab tesirine) dose.
Zynlonta (loncastuximab tesirine) might cause skin reactions, such as a rash that can be painful or spread across the body and skin redness. It can also make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, making it easier for sunburns to happen.
Let your oncology care team know if you have new or worsening skin reactions, have pain on your skin, or get a sunburn while you’re taking Zynlonta (loncastuximab tesirine). You might need to stop taking the medication while your oncologist checks out what’s going on.
Based on the way Zynlonta (loncastuximab tesirine) works, the medication could cause harm to an unborn baby if it’s given during pregnancy.
If you’re able to become pregnant, you should use effective birth control while you’re taking Zynlonta (loncastuximab tesirine) and for 10 months after the last dose. If you’re male who’s sexually active with a partner who can become pregnant, you should use appropriate birth control, for example condoms, during your treatment with Zynlonta (loncastuximab tesirine) and for 7 months after the last dose.
Contact your oncology care team right away if you or your partner gets pregnant while you’re taking Zynlonta (loncastuximab tesirine).
Zynlonta (loncastuximab tesirine) is an intravenous (IV) infusion, meaning that it’s given through the vein. It’s given once every 3 weeks at an infusion clinic or medical office.
Each of your doses will be based on your weight.
Prescription savings
Stop paying too much for your prescriptions. Compare prices, get pharmacy coupons, and save up to 80%.
Find expert answers to your health questions so you can make the best decisions for yourself and your family.Health conditions
Medications & treatment
Access & affordability
Our monthly healthcare membership can help you save thousands on your prescription costs.Resources
Not exactly. Zynlonta is an antibody-drug conjugate, which is made up of a targeted therapy and a chemotherapy that’s linked together. The targeted therapy part of Zynlonta guides the medication specifically to lymphoma cells. Then, the chemotherapy part of the medication can damage that cell’s DNA and kills the lymphoma cell. This is different from traditional chemotherapy, which attacks and kills any cell in the body that grows quickly. This can include not only cancer cells, but also healthy hair cells and cells in the digestive tract. Targeting only lymphoma cells helps lower the risk for some side effects that are common with traditional chemotherapy, such as hair loss and nausea.
The most common side effect of Zynlonta is a low blood cell count. This medication can cause your white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets to drop. This means that you might get sick more easily, since your white blood cells help your body fight infection. You also might feel more tired or develop anemia from having lower red blood cell counts than usual. And, you might be at risk for easy bleeding since you have fewer platelets in your body to help stop any bleeding. Your oncologist will monitor your blood cell counts very closely while you’re taking Zynlonta. Call your care team if you have a fever, feel very tired, or have any unexpected bruising or bleeding at any time during treatment.
Yes. There aren’t any restrictions for people with liver problems that the manufacturer of Zynlonta lists. But keep in mind that it’s possible for people with liver problems to be at higher risk for side effects from the medication. In addition, some people can develop higher liver enzyme levels (a possible sign of irritation to the liver) while they’re taking Zynlonta. Let your oncologist know if you have liver problems before you start treatment with Zynlonta so they know to monitor you for side effects more closely. Talk with your oncologist if you have concerns about taking Zynlonta if you have liver problems.
It’s possible that you might feel nauseous while you’re taking Zynlonta. During clinical studies, almost 1 in 4 people who took Zynlonta experienced nausea, but it wasn’t severe. Your oncologist might prescribe antiemetic medications, like ondansetron (Zofran) or prochlorperazine (Compazine). These medications can help ease nausea or upset stomach. Contact your care team if you have nausea or vomiting that’s severe or won’t go away while you’re getting treated with Zynlonta.
You should take Zynlonta for as long as it’s recommended by your oncologist. Typically, this medication is given every 3 weeks as long as it’s working to treat your cancer. Your treatment will also probably continue as long as you’re not experiencing any serious or bothersome side effects. Your oncologist will monitor how well Zynlonta is working for you based on your symptoms, scan results, and lab tests. They’ll also monitor you for side effects. Don’t stop taking Zynlonta without first talking with your oncologist.
Based on the way Zynlonta works, it’s possible for the medication to cause harm to an unborn baby if it’s given during pregnancy. Contact your oncologist right away if you or your partner might be pregnant while you’re taking Zynlonta.
Avoid breastfeeding while you’re taking Zynlonta and for 3 months after your last dose of the medication. We don’t know whether Zynlonta passes into human breast milk. And we don’t know what the effects the medication has on your milk supply or whether it can cause harm to a nursing baby. But there’s potential for your baby to have serious side effects if breastfed during treatment. Speak with your care team about ways to safely feed your baby while you’re taking Zynlonta, such as using baby formula.
In April 2021, the FDA granted Zynlonta an accelerated approval for certain adults with advanced large B-cell lymphoma, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. This accelerated approval was based on a study measuring the medication’s overall response rate, or the percentage of people whose cancer shrank or went away, with up to 1 year of treatment. The FDA will require the manufacturer to conduct additional studies to confirm whether Zynlonta has a clear clinical benefit for people with advanced large B-cell lymphoma.
