Brand Name(s)
- United States: Polivy
- Canada: Polivy
Warning(s)
Tell all your health care providers that you are taking this drug. Share a list of all your medicines and health problems. Tell your doctor if you have liver disease, any allergies to this drug, or past severe reactions to infusions.
- Low blood counts can happen. This raises the risk of infections, bleeding, and anemia. Watch for fever, chills, sore throat, easy bruising, or unusual bleeding.
- Infections can be severe or life-threatening. Wash your hands often and avoid people who are sick.
- Infusion reactions may happen on the day of treatment. Tell your team right away if you have fever, chills, flushing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, dizziness, or rash during or after the infusion.
- Nerve problems (peripheral neuropathy) may occur. Look for numbness, tingling, burning, weakness, or trouble walking.
- Liver problems can occur. Call your doctor if you notice yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, stomach pain, nausea, or loss of appetite.
- Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) can happen when many cancer cells die quickly. Get help right away for fast or abnormal heartbeat, fainting, trouble urinating, muscle cramps or weakness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or unusual tiredness.
- A very rare brain infection called PML has happened. Seek urgent care for confusion, memory problems, mood changes, trouble speaking or thinking, vision changes, loss of balance, or weakness on one side.
- Bleeding risk may increase. Use a soft toothbrush and an electric razor. Be careful to avoid injury.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: This drug may harm an unborn baby. You will need a pregnancy test before starting. Use birth control during treatment and for a time after the last dose. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for 2 months after the last dose. This drug may affect fertility.
- Older adults (65+) may have more side effects.
Your care team will check your blood regularly. Do not start, stop, or change any medicine without talking to your doctor.
Kind of Cancers It Is Used For (not a complete list)
- Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, in adults.
- Used with other medicines for newly diagnosed DLBCL in some adults.
- Used with other medicines for certain relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphomas in adults.
Your care team will decide if this medicine fits your type of lymphoma and which other drugs to combine with it.
Mechanism of Action
Polatuzumab is an antibody-drug conjugate. The antibody part targets a protein called CD79b found on B cells (including many lymphoma cells). After it attaches, the cell takes it inside and releases a chemotherapy payload (MMAE). This payload blocks cell structures needed for division, causing the cancer cell to die.
Common Side Effects
- Low white blood cells, red blood cells, or platelets (risk of infection, tiredness, or bleeding)
- Tiredness or weakness; dizziness
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, or stomach pain
- Decreased appetite and weight loss
- Mouth irritation or mouth sores
- Cold-like symptoms or cough
- Joint pain
- Numbness, tingling, or pain in hands or feet (peripheral neuropathy)
This is not all possible side effects. Tell your doctor about any new or worsening symptoms, especially fever, bleeding, severe diarrhea or vomiting, shortness of breath, or yellowing of the skin or eyes.
Last reviewed: 2025-12-04
