Biogen Idec and Schering AG display positive results for Zevalin

Biogen Idec and Schering AG have revealed new data concerning its drug Zevalin, designed for use on “hard-to-treat” cancers such as mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), follicular non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and primary central nervous system lymphoma.

One study found that 84 per cent of patients with MCL, a rare type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that affects the blood’s B-cells, respond to Zevalin treatment, with a complete response (a halt to the progression of the disease) found in 45 per cent patients. Additional studies were made to examine the use of Zevalin as part of a consolidation therapy.

The results were presented at this year’s annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Wayne Saville, director of medical affairs at Biogen Idec, stated: “We are pleased that the data at this year’s ASCO meeting continues to explore Zevalin’s ability to impact a broad range of patients, and underscores the growing role that Zevalin can play in the standard of care for lymphoma.”

Zevalin was approved by the FDA in 2002 for the treatment of relapsed or refractory low grade, follicular or transformed B-cell non Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Zevalin’s design employs monoclonal antibody technology to target and destroy all B-cells, whether cancerous or not. B-cells are lymphocytes which are involved in immune responses.

Monoclonal antibody drugs are becoming increasingly numerous thanks to their ability to be designed to target specific types of cells, making them useful for cancer drugs.

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