Biogen Idec starts phase III galiximab NHL trial

Biogen Idec has announced that it has initiated a phase III clinical trial of galiximab for patients with follicular non-Hodkgin’s lymphoma (NHL) who have relapsed or not responded sufficiently to therapy.

The trial will compare galiximab with Rituxan (rituximab) to a placebo with rituximab. Galiximab is an investigational anti-CD80 monoclonal antibody. The CD80 target is found uniformly on the malignant part of Hodgkin’s disease and most non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas.

The study will eventually include 700 patients tested at over 150 facilities worldwide with a primary study endpoint of progression-free survival in patients with relapsed or refractory follicular NHL.

David Parkinson, senior vice president of oncology research and development at Biogen Idec, commented that the compound marked a novel approach to the treatment of patients with NHL.

“Galiximab, together with our anti-CD23 monoclonal antibody (lumiliximab) for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, demonstrates Biogen Idec’s leadership in development of therapies for haematological malignancies,” he said.

He added that earlier clinical trials of the compound had suggested the possibility of new types of antibody therapies to treat lymphoma.

Last September, the company announced that the Food and Drug Administration in the US had approved two additional uses for Rituxan in patients with CD20-positive, B-cell NHL.