Epcoritamab Demonstrates Strong Efficacy in Elderly DLBCL and Follicular Lymphoma Patients at ASH 2024
Key Insights
Epcoritamab combined with R-mini-CHOP (search) achieved 2-year remissions and high MRD negativity rates in elderly patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL in the EPCORE NHL-2 trial.
The bispecific antibody delivered deep and durable remissions when combined with rituximab plus lenalidomide in previously untreated follicular lymphoma (search) patients, with 3-year follow-up data showing sustained efficacy.
Fixed-duration epcoritamab monotherapy induced high response rates and MRD-negativity in elderly patients with newly diagnosed large B-cell lymphoma (search) and comorbidities.
Hackensack Meridian John Theurer Cancer Center (search) presented compelling new data on epcoritamab, a CD3xCD20 bispecific antibody, at the 67th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting, demonstrating the therapy's efficacy across multiple lymphoma subtypes and treatment settings.
Strong Performance in Elderly DLBCL Patients
The EPCORE NHL-2 trial showed that epcoritamab combined with R-mini-CHOP (search) resulted in 2-year remissions and high minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity rates in elderly patients with newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (search) (DLBCL). This combination approach addresses a critical need for effective treatments in older patients who may not tolerate intensive chemotherapy regimens.
Additionally, fixed-duration epcoritamab monotherapy induced high response rates and MRD-negativity in elderly patients with newly diagnosed large B-cell lymphoma (search) and comorbidities, as reported in the EPCORE DLBCL-3 study. This finding is particularly significant for patients who cannot receive standard combination therapies due to their medical condition.
Durable Outcomes in Follicular Lymphoma
In follicular lymphoma (search), epcoritamab with rituximab plus lenalidomide (R2) and epcoritamab maintenance delivered deep and durable remissions in previously untreated patients. The 3-year outcomes from EPCORE NHL-2 arms 6 and 7 demonstrated sustained efficacy in this first-line setting, potentially offering a chemotherapy-free treatment option for patients with this indolent lymphoma.
Long-term Efficacy Data
Perhaps most notably, long-term follow-up results from the pivotal EPCORE NHL-1 trial showed sustained remissions beyond 4 years with epcoritamab monotherapy in patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma (search). This extended durability of response supports the potential for epcoritamab to provide long-lasting disease control in heavily pretreated patients.
Broader Research Portfolio
The presentations were part of a comprehensive research portfolio from Hackensack Meridian John Theurer Cancer Center (search), which included studies across lymphoma, multiple myeloma, myeloproliferative neoplasms, and noncancerous blood disorders. The center's research spans from novel CAR-T cell therapies to artificial intelligence applications in hematologic malignancies.
These findings position epcoritamab as a versatile therapeutic option across different lymphoma subtypes and patient populations, with particular promise for elderly patients and those with comorbidities who may benefit from less intensive treatment approaches. The sustained long-term responses observed in the relapsed/refractory setting further support the clinical value of this bispecific antibody platform.