Bayer announces positive phase III Zevalin data

Bayer has announced positive phase III data for Zevalin ([90Y]-ibritumomab tiuxetan), with patients in advanced stage follicular lymphoma showing a significant improvement in rates of progression-free survival.

The company presented this information at the 49th annual meeting of the American Society of Haemotology, with patients receiving Zevalin showing a median progression-free survival rate of 37 months, compared to that of 13.5 months in the control patient arm.

A median progression-free survival of 29.7 months was seen in Zevalin patients in partial remission, against 6.3 months for the control group following induction therapy, compared to 54.6 months against 29.9 months for patients in complete remission.

Dr Kemal Malik, head of global development at Bayer Schering Pharma, said: “We are very excited about the first-line indolent trial results as they demonstrate that Zevalin consolidation therapy provides a clear improvement for patients in the quality of their response and therefore, in their remission period.”

He added that it is the goal of the company to develop effective treatments for patients as early as possible, with these trial results key for clinical practice.

In June 2007, Biogen Idec announced that the addition of Zevalin and rituximab to a short first-line treatment course for follicular lymphoma doubled the complete response rate seen in patients.