Obinutuzumab gets FDA’s green light for follicular lymphoma

Obinutuzumab gets FDA’s green light for follicular lymphoma

2 Mar 2016

On February 26, 2016, the US FDA approved obinutuzumab (Gazyva Injection, Genentech) for use in combination with bendamustine followed by obinutuzumab monotherapy for the treatment of patients with follicular lymphoma who relapsed after, or are refractory to, a rituximab-containing regimen.

Approval based on the results of a randomized, multicenter trial

Obinutuzumab was previously approved for use in combination with chlorambucil for the treatment of patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia. This new approval was based on demonstration of an improvement in progression-free survival in a randomized, open-label, multicenter trial in patients with follicular lymphoma who had no response to or have progressed during or within 6 months of a rituximab-containing regimen.

This trial compared 6 cycles of obinutuzumab plus bendamustine combination therapy followed by continued obinutuzumab monotherapy for up to 2 years with 6 cycles of bendamustine therapy. Efficacy was assessed in 321 patients with follicular lymphoma randomized to either obinutuzumab plus bendamustine (n=155) or bendamustine (n=166).

The median age was 63 years (range 34-87). Patients had received a median of 2 prior therapies (range 1-10). This trial also enrolled 46 patients with marginal zone lymphoma and 28 with small lymphocytic lymphoma who were also included in the safety analysis.

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Clinical results and adverse reactions of the drug

The independent review assessed median progression-free survival was 13.8 months in the bendamustine arm while the median progression-free survival was not reached in the obinutuzumab plus bendamustine arm.

The most common adverse reactions (greater than or equal to 10%) in the safety population treated with obinutuzumab plus bendamustine followed by obinutuzumab monotherapy were infusion reactions, neutropenia, nausea, fatigue, cough, diarrhea, constipation, pyrexia, thrombocytopenia, vomiting, upper respiratory tract infection, decreased appetite, arthralgia, sinusitis, anemia, asthenia and urinary tract infection.

Serious adverse reactions were reported in 38% of patients treated with obinutuzumab plus bendamustine followed by obinutuzumab monotherapy. The most common serious adverse reactions (greater than 2%) were febrile neutropenia, neutropenia, infusion related reactions, sepsis, pneumonia and pyrexia.

The recommended dose and schedule for the regimen follows:

Obinutuzumab: 1000 mg by intravenous infusion on days 1, 8 and 15 of cycle 1; on day 1 of cycles 2-6 (28-day cycles); and then every 2 months for 2 years. Bendamustine: 90 mg/m2 by intravenous infusion on days 1 and 2 of cycles 1-6. This application was granted Priority Review.

Source: eCancer News

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