The CD30-directed antibody-drug conjugate brentuximab vedotin (BV) was FDA approved in 2011 for the treatment of relapsed classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL), in 2015 for maintenance after autologous transplantation in high-risk patients, and in 2018 for frontline therapy with doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine for advanced stage cHL. Although the role of BV in cHL had been reasonably well-established, it is currently being challenged by the changing landscape of other highly effective novel agents, such as checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapies. In this review, we discuss the evolving role of BV in the management of cHL and ongoing studies attempting to define the optimal usage of this effective agent.

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