
Abbvie and Genmab’s bispecific shines again
Abbvie and Genmab have long claimed that their anti-CD20 bispecific epcoritamab could be best in class. Now new data add weight to these assertions. The latest topline results from the Epcore NHL-1 trial, in third-line or later large B-cell lymphoma, paint epco in a favourable light versus rival CD20-targeting T-cell engagers in similar populations, as well as against Roche’s antibody-drug conjugate Polivy, which gained accelerated approval last year. Roche has boasted that Polivy is as good as Car-T, something that also looks true for epco, at least on a cross-trial basis. Notably, 39% of the epco-treated patients had already progressed on Car-T. As for adverse events, Abbvie and Genmab said only that cytokine release syndrome was most common, with a 2.5% incidence of grade 3 CRS. More details on both efficacy and safety will be keenly awaited, but the groups have already signalled plans to seek accelerated approval this year in DLBCL. Another anti-CD20 bispecific, Roche and Biogen’s mosunetuzumab, is ahead, with a rolling submission already under way. However, rather than DLBCL the groups are seeking the go-ahead in a slower-growing form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, follicular lymphoma.
Cross-trial comparison of agents for large B-cell lymphoma | |||||
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Project | Epcoritamab (GEN3013) | Polivy | Glofitamab (RG6026) | Odronextamab (REGN1979) | Plamotamab |
Company | Abbvie/ Genmab | Roche | Roche | Regeneron | J&J/ Xencor |
Description | Anti-CD20 bispecific | Anti-CD79b ADC | Anti-CD20 bispecific | Anti-CD20 bispecific | Anti-CD20 bispecific |
Setting | ≥3L LBCL | ≥2L DLBCL* | r/r DLBCL** | ≥2L DLBCL | ≥2L DLBCL |
Study | Ph1/2 Epcore NHL-1 | Ph1/2 Study GO29365 | Ph1/2 Study NP30179 | Ph1 Elm-1 | Ph1 XmAb13676-01 |
Efficacy | ORR 63% | ORR 45% | ORR 41% | ORR 40% | ORR 37% |
Notable adverse events | 50% CRS (2.5% gr3) | 42% ≥gr3 neutropenia | 25% neutropenia | 64% ≥gr3, 45% serious, 5 treatment-related deaths^ | 62% CRS (5% gr3) |
*Label is for 3L; **median 3 prior lines of therapy; ^had been on partial clinical hold, lifted May 2021; (D)LBCL=(diffuse) large B-cell lymphoma, both subsets of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Source: company release, product label, Asco 2021, Ash 2021 & Ash 2020. |