Milatuzumab Plus Veltuzumab Demonstrate Activity in B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Combination therapy with veltuzumab and milatuzumab demonstrated activity in a population of heavily pre-treated patients with relapsed or refractory indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a recent study published in the British Journal of Haematology has shown.

For the phase I/II study, researchers sought to assess the activity and safety of veltuzumab, a humanized anti-CD20 antibody, and milatuzumab, a humanized anti-CD74 antibody, in patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma after the combination showed anti-tumor activity in vitro and in vivo.

Researchers enrolled 35 patients. All patients received an induction of veltuzumab 200mg/m2 weekly in combination with escalating doses of milatuzumab at 8, 16, and 20mg/kg weekly for 4 weeks.

Patients whose disease did not progress could receive an extended induction with treatment on weeks 12, 20, 28, and 26.

Results showed that 29% of patients complete all 36 weeks of treatment. Researchers observed an overall response rate of 24% and a median duration of response of 12 months.

Responses were observed at all dose levels. Of the 63% of patients who were rituximab refractory, 50% achieved responses.

In regard to safety, immunotherapy-associated grade 3-4 adverse events included anemia, atrial tachycardia, fatigue, hyperglycemia, infusion reactions, leukopenia, lymphopenia, and neutropenia.

Reference

1. Christian BA, Poi M, Jones JA, et al. The combination of milatuzumab, a humanized anti-CD74 antibody, and veltuzumab, a humanized anti-CD20 antibody, demonstrates activity in patients with relapsed and refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Brit J Haematol. 2015. [Epub ahead of print]. doi: 10.1111/bjh.13354.