Takeda and Millennium report data from ADCETRIS trial

Takeda and Millennium have reported new data from a Phase I trial of ADCETRIS (Brentuximab Vedotin), which is being used to help treat newly diagnosed Hodgkin Lymphoma.

The drug is being used in combination with chemotherapy, and it is an anti-body drug conjugate (DC). Results from the study found the solution helped towards a 96 per cent complete remission rate in those with the disease.

In the trial, patients received escalating doses of ADCETRIS, ranging from 0.6mg/kg to 1.2 mg/kg every two weeks, along with ABVD or a dose of 1.2 mg/kg every two weeks with AVD, which is used to remove bleomycin.

Twenty-four of 25 patients had a complete remission, whereas 95 per cent (21 of 22) treated with ADCETRIS and ABVD had a CR.

The most common adverse events noted in the ABVD and AVD cohorts in the study were nausea, neutrophenia, peripheral sensory neuropathy, vomiting and fatigue.

Grade 3 or higher side effects found in the two cohorts were neutrophenia, anemia, febrile neutrophenia and pulmonary toxicity.

All participants in the pharma trial were previously untreated with Stage IIA bulky disease or Stage IIB-IV Hodgkin lymphoma, while the median age of those involved was 33 years

Stephen Ansell, Ph.D, medical oncologist, said: "For decades researchers have strived to find ways to improve the front-line HL treatment strategy by enhancing the activity of traditional chemotherapy regimens while reducing toxicities and long-term side effects of such regimens.

"An unmet medical need remains for patients in the front-line HL setting. With a complete response rate of 96 per cent and a generally manageable safety profile, data from this trial support further evaluation of ADCETRIS administered concomitantly with AVD."

Millennium and Seattle Genetics have also planned a phase III clinical trial in patients with diagnosed advanced stage HL, which will compare progression-free survival in patients receiving ADCETRIS and AVD to those who are solely treated with ABVD.

Posted by Ben Evans