Bayer lymphoma drug meets primary endpoint

Bayer has announced the results of a phase III first-line indolent trial with Zevalin ([90Y]-ibritumomab tiuxetan), with the compound meeting its primary endpoint of demonstrating an improvement in progression-free survival in patients with advanced follicular lymphoma.

In the study, patients were given initial induction treatment and then received either Zevalin or no further treatment, with those in the Zevalin arm displaying longer progression-free survival than those in the observation treatment arm.

Zevalin combines the tumour-destroying power of localized yttrium-90 radiation and an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody to offer an improved efficacy compared to the sole use of non-radiolabelled immunotherapy.

Full results from the trial will be presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology in December.

Dr Kemal Malik, head of global development at Bayer Schering Pharma, said: “Despite improvements in recent years, follicular lymphoma is still challenging to treat and many patients experience a relapse following treatment.”

He added that a key goal of consolidation therapy is – for patients responding to initial induction therapy – the improvement in quality of response and lengthening of remission period.

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