Biogen Idec starts lumiliximab trial

Biogen Idec has announced the initiation of a trial of lumiliximab as a treatment for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). The investigational anti-CD23 monoclonal antibody will be studied as a combination treatment with fludaribine, cyclophosphamide and rituximab (FCR) and compared to treatment solely with FCR.

The combination therapy will be investigated in patients with CLL who have failed to respond to initial therapy or whose condition has relapsed. The evaluation of lumiliximab in combination with FCR in patients with relapsed CLL (Lucid) trial had the primary study endpoint of complete response.

Registration in the Lucid trial began last month, with the first patient enrolled on January 17th and treated on January 22nd.

Ian Flinn, director of haematologic malignancies research at the Sarah Cannon Research Institute, said: “We are encouraged to continue studying this novel CD23 antibody in combination with FRC following positive data that showed the potential for improved outcomes for CLL patients.”

He added that the development of this compound was important due to a currently unmet need for targeted therapeutic options for patients with CLL.

Last month, Biogen Idec announced that it had begun a phase III clinical trial of galiximab, an anti-CD80 monoclonal antibody for the treatment of patients with lymphoma.