Formulation of an antibody and use thereof

A lyophilized formulation of an anti-CD 20 antibody, obtained by a method comprising the steps of:

• I) providing a solution comprising the anti-CD 20 antibody,
• II) freezing the antibody solution, and
• III) subjecting the antibody solution to at least two drying steps, with a first drying step at a shelf temperature of −10° C. to 30° C., and a second drying step,
• wherein the anti-CD 20 antibody is veltuzumab or an antigen-binding fragment thereof,
• wherein the first drying step and the second drying step each changes the temperature to the shelf temperature at a rate of 1° C. per minute,
• wherein the second drying step is at a shelf temperature lower than the shelf temperature of the first drying step,
• wherein the formulation has a residual moisture content in the range of about 1.5% to 1.8%,
• and wherein the formulation exhibits increased stability and reduced tendency to form aggregates during storage, as determined by measurement of particulate contamination, or by HP-SEC (high performance size-exclusion chromatography) monomer %.