Zevalin is the nuclear-armed version of Rituxan. Specifically, Zevalin is the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody drug Rituxan (”guiding missile”) labeled with the radioactive isotope Yttrium-90 (nuclear “warhead”).

Zevalin is indicated for relapsed or refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, including patients with Rituxan-refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

When Zevalin binds to cancer cells and normal mature B cells that express the biomarker protein CD20, it brings radiation to these cells in a harm’s way. Zevalin kills its target cells via both cold (means by which Rituxan does its job) and hot (pin-point radiation) approaches.

Zevalin is given to a patient by intravenous infusion. Isotope Yttrium-90 emits beta particles (rays) that have a range of approximately 5 millimeter. Yttrium-90 has a half-life of 64.1 hours or 2.67 days. It decays into the non-radioactive zirconium-90.

After receiving the radioactive drug, patients can generally resume regular daily activities. Their “hotness” is generally over-rated and is less menacing than generally perceived.

Biogen Idec, Inc. (Cambridge, MA) developed Zevalin. The drug was purchased by Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (Seattle, WA) in December 2007. Bayer Schering Pharma AG of Germany markets the drug outside the U.S. Cell Therapeutics reported that it had sales of $3.8 million in the first quarter of 2008. The complicated administration process, relatively high cost (about $30,000 per treatment), and restricted reimbursement policy limited its use.

[Originally written for a company's weekly newsletter. With permission.]