Two Data Analyses from Clinical Trials Show Epcoritamab (DuoBody® CD3xCD20) Induces Durable, Complete Responses as Monotherapy and Combination Treatment in Patients With Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL)

Rhea-AI Summary

Genmab A/S (GMAB) announced new long-term results from two clinical trials evaluating epcoritamab in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The EPCORE® NHL-2 trial showed a 100% overall response rate and 87% complete response rate in high-risk patients with previously untreated DLBCL when epcoritamab was combined with R-CHOP therapy. Among complete responders, 83% remained in remission after two years.

In the EPCORE® NHL-1 trial, evaluating epcoritamab monotherapy in relapsed/refractory patients, 41% achieved complete response, with an estimated 52% still responding at three years. The median complete response duration was 36.1 months. Both analyses were presented at the ASH Annual Meeting.

Positive

• 100% overall response rate and 87% complete response rate in NHL-2 trial
• 83% of complete responders remained in remission after two years
• 91% of evaluable patients achieved MRD negativity in NHL-2 trial
• 52% of complete responders in NHL-1 trial still responding at three years
• Median complete response duration of 36.1 months in NHL-1 trial

Negative

• 9% of patients discontinued epcoritamab due to treatment-emergent adverse events
• Two fatal treatment-emergent adverse events occurred (COVID-19 and septic shock)
• 51% of patients experienced cytokine release syndrome in NHL-1 trial
• 20 patients reported fatal treatment-emergent adverse events in NHL-1 trial
• Treatment caused approximately 20% decrease in Immunoglobulin G levels

Insights

Medical Research Analyst

The clinical trial results for epcoritamab demonstrate exceptional efficacy in both first-line and relapsed/refractory DLBCL settings. The 100% overall response rate and 87% complete response rate in previously untreated high-risk DLBCL patients are remarkably high. The durability of these responses is particularly impressive, with 83% of complete responders maintaining remission after two years.

The long-term data in the relapsed/refractory setting is equally compelling, with a 52% three-year response rate among complete responders and a median CR duration of 36.1 months. The achievement of MRD negativity in 91% of evaluable first-line patients and 45% of relapsed/refractory patients suggests deep and potentially lasting responses.

The safety profile appears manageable, with cytokine release syndrome being predominantly low-grade and manageable. These results position epcoritamab as a potentially transformative therapy in DLBCL treatment.

Financial Analyst

These clinical results could significantly impact Genmab's market position in the $7+ billion DLBCL market. The exceptional efficacy data in both first-line and relapsed settings positions epcoritamab competitively against existing treatments. The durability of response and high complete response rates could lead to substantial market penetration, particularly in high-risk patients where current treatments often fall short.

The subcutaneous administration offers a competitive advantage over IV therapies, potentially improving patient compliance and reducing healthcare costs. If approved for first-line treatment, epcoritamab could capture significant market share from R-CHOP, the current standard of care. The robust safety profile and promising efficacy data support a strong likelihood of regulatory approval in additional indications, potentially expanding the drug's commercial opportunity.

• Results from Arm 1 of the EPCORE^® NHL-2 trial show treatment with epcoritamab combination led to an overall response rate (ORR) of 100 percent and a complete response (CR) rate of 87 percent in high-risk patients with previously untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)
• Extended follow-up data from EPCORE^® NHL-1 trial demonstrates durability of responses and long-term safety of epcoritamab monotherapy for patients with challenging-to-treat relapsed/refractory (R/R) DLBCL
• Both analyses were presented at the 66^th Annual Meeting and Exposition of the American Society of Hematology (ASH)

COPENHAGEN, Denmark--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Genmab A/S (Nasdaq: GMAB) today announced new long-term results from two ongoing clinical trials evaluating epcoritamab, a T-cell engaging bispecific antibody administered subcutaneously, in adult patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Results from Arm 1 of the Phase 1b/2 EPCORE^® NHL-2 trial (NCT04663347), evaluating fixed-duration epcoritamab in combination with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP), demonstrated an overall response rate (ORR) of 100 percent and a complete response (CR) rate of 87 percent in high-risk patients (n=46) with previously untreated DLBCL. Among complete responders, 83 percent remained in remission after two years. Separately, results from the Phase 2 EPCORE^® NHL-1 trial (NCT03625037), evaluating epcoritamab monotherapy in challenging-to-treat adult patients (n=157) with relapsed or refractory (R/R) large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL; including 148 patients with R/R DLBCL), showed that among the 41 percent of patients who achieved a CR, an estimated 52 percent were still responding at three years (median CR duration: 36.1 months). Both analyses were presented at the 66^th Annual Meeting and Exposition of the American Society of Hematology (ASH).

“The unprecedented durability of response seen in these data reinforce the potential of epcoritamab to become a core therapy for the treatment of multiple B-cell malignancies to benefit more patients,” said Dr. Judith Klimovsky, Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer of Genmab. “These results support our ongoing Phase 3 trials for epcoritamab, including as an investigational first-line combination therapy in patients with previously untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.”

EPCORE^® NHL-2 Results in First-Line DLBCL (Abstract #581)

The EPCORE NHL-2 trial enrolled 46 patients considered to have high-risk DLBCL, identified by International Prognostic Index (IPI) scores of 3 to 5, a range associated with poor long-term outcomes. The IPI is a key tool used by oncologists to predict the prognosis of aggressive B-cell lymphomas.ⁱ At screening, 35 percent of patients (n=16) had bulky disease (>10 cm) and 21 percent (n=6) of evaluable patients (n=28) had double-hit/triple-hit LBCL based on gene rearrangements identified by central analysis.

• With a median follow-up of 27.4 months (range, 0.8-33.9), 87 percent of patients remained alive at two years and 74 percent were progression free.
• At two years, a minimal residual disease (MRD) analysis showed MRD negativity was achieved in 91 percent of evaluable patients (30/33), indicating no detectable disease.
• Epcoritamab in combination with R-CHOP is being studied further in the ongoing, randomized, Phase 3 EPCORE DLBCL-2 trial (NCT05578976).

“More first-line treatment options for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma are needed, especially for patients with aggressive disease prognostic markers that may impact the efficacy of current standard first-line therapies,” said Lorenzo Falchi, MD, Lymphoma Specialist, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.ⁱⁱ “Relapse rates with the R-CHOP treatment regimen can reach 50 percent, so the durable responses observed in the study suggest significant potential for this first-line epcoritamab-based combination.”

The most common treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were neutropenia (70 percent), anemia (69 percent), cytokine release syndrome (CRS; 60 percent), fatigue (49 percent), nausea (47 percent), pyrexia (42 percent), and injection-site reaction (40 percent). Four patients (9 percent) discontinued epcoritamab due to TEAEs; fatal TEAEs occurred in two patients (COVID-19 and septic shock). CRS events were mostly low grade (45 percent Grade 1, 11 percent Grade 2, 4 percent Grade 3) and mainly occurred after the first full dose. All CRS cases resolved, and none led to discontinuation. Immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) occurred in two patients (one Grade 1; one Grade 2) and resolved in a median of 2.5 days without leading to discontinuation.

Use of epcoritamab + R-CHOP in first-line DLBCL is not approved in the U.S. or in the EU or in any other territory. The safety and efficacy of epcoritamab for use as a combination therapy in DLBCL have not been established.

EPCORE^® NHL-1 Results in Third-Line LBCL (Abstract #4480)

Three-year follow-up results from the Phase 2 EPCORE^® NHL-1 trial evaluated epcoritamab monotherapy in 157 patients with R/R LBCL and demonstrated that epcoritamab continues to deliver durable responses in challenging-to-treat patients.

• The ORR was 59 percent, and the CR rate was 41 percent. Median duration of response was 20.8 months (95 percent CI, 13.0-32.0) and median duration of CR was 36.1 months (95 percent CI, 20.2 to not reached [NR]).
• 52 percent of patients who experienced a CR were still responding at three years (median CR duration: 36.1 months).
• Of the 119 patients who were MRD-evaluable, 54 (45 percent) achieved MRD-negativity. In a cycle 3-day 1 landmark analysis, 3-year PFS rates were 52 percent among MRD-negative patients and 18 percent among MRD-positive patients.

The most common TEAEs were CRS (51 percent; 32 percent Grade 1, 16 percent Grade 2, 3 percent Grade 3), fatigue (25 percent), and pyrexia (25 percent); CRS rates remained unchanged since prior reports. Fatal TEAEs were reported in 20 patients; 10 patients had Grade 5 COVID-19 (including COVID-19 pneumonia). Seventy-three percent of patients treated with epcoritamab for two or more years did not experience a Grade 3 or higher infection after two years (median follow-up after 2 years, 12.3 months). Incidence of Grade 3 or higher cytopenias was highest (27 percent) during the first eight weeks of treatment and rates were within 0-13 percent in subsequent 12‑week time periods up to week 144. Immunoglobulin G levels decreased by a median of approximately 20 percent after the start of epcoritamab treatment (baseline median, 540.0 mg/dL) and remained stable over time.

About Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL)

DLBCL is the most common type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) worldwide, accounting for approximately 25-30 percent of all NHL cases.^iii,iv In the U.S., there are approximately 25,000 new cases of DLBCL diagnosed each year.^v DLBCL can arise in lymph nodes as well as in organs outside of the lymphatic system, occurs more commonly in the elderly and is slightly more prevalent in men.^vi,vii DLBCL is a fast-growing type of NHL, a cancer that develops in the lymphatic system and affects B-cell lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. For many people living with DLBCL, their cancer either relapses, which means it may return after treatment, or becomes refractory, meaning it does not respond to treatment. Although new therapies have become available, treatment management can remain a challenge. ^viii,ix

About the EPCORE^® NHL-2 Trial

EPCORE^® NHL-2 is a Phase 1b/2 open-label interventional trial to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics/biomarkers, immunogenicity, and preliminary efficacy of epcoritamab as a monotherapy and in combination with other standard of care agents in patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (B-NHL). The trial consists of two parts: Part 1 (Dose Escalation) and Part 2 (Dose Expansion). The primary objective of Part 1 is safety, and the primary goal of Part 2 is preliminary efficacy. The primary endpoint was overall response rate (ORR) based on best overall response per Lugano criteria. MRD negativity was assessed as a secondary endpoint.

Arm 1 of the trial is epcoritamab plus rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R‑CHOP) in adult patients with previously untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). More information on this trial can be found at https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ (NCT: 04663347).

About the EPCORE^® NHL-1 Trial

EPCORE^® NHL-1 is an open-label, multicohort, single-arm, Phase 1/2 trial of epcoritamab in participants with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL), including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The trial was conducted at 88 sites across 15 countries and consisted of three parts: a Phase 1 first-in-human, dose escalation part; a Phase 2a expansion part; and a Phase 2a dose optimization part. More information on this trial can be found at https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ (NCT: 03625037).

About Epcoritamab

Epcoritamab is an IgG1-bispecific antibody created using Genmab's proprietary DuoBody^® technology and administered subcutaneously. Genmab's DuoBody-CD3 technology is designed to direct cytotoxic T cells selectively to elicit an immune response toward target cell types. Epcoritamab is designed to simultaneously bind to CD3 on T cells and CD20 on B cells and induces T-cell-mediated killing of CD20+ cells.^x

Epcoritamab (approved under the brand name EPKINLY in the U.S. and Japan, and TEPKINLY in the EU) has received regulatory approval in certain lymphoma indications in several territories. Epcoritamab is being co-developed by Genmab and AbbVie as part of the companies' oncology collaboration. The companies will share commercial responsibilities in the U.S. and Japan, with AbbVie responsible for further global commercialization. Both companies will pursue additional international regulatory approvals for the investigational R/R FL indication and additional approvals for the R/R DLBCL indication.

Genmab and AbbVie continue to evaluate the use of epcoritamab as a monotherapy, and in combination, across lines of therapy in a range of hematologic malignancies. This includes five ongoing Phase 3, open-label, randomized trials including a trial evaluating epcoritamab as a monotherapy in patients with R/R DLBCL compared to investigator’s choice chemotherapy (NCT04628494), a trial evaluating epcoritamab in combination with R-CHOP in adult patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL (NCT05578976), a trial evaluating epcoritamab in combination with rituximab and lenalidomide (R²) in patients with R/R FL (NCT05409066), a trial evaluating epcoritamab in combination with rituximab and lenalidomide (R²) compared to chemoimmunotherapy in patients with previously untreated FL (NCT06191744), and a trial evaluating epcoritamab in combination with lenalidomide compared to chemotherapy infusion in patients with R/R DLBCL (NCT06508658). The safety and efficacy of epcoritamab has not been established for these investigational uses. Please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov for more information.

EPKINLY^® (epcoritamab-bysp) U.S. INDICATIONS & IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

What is EPKINLY?

EPKINLY is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with certain types of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), high-grade B-cell lymphoma, or follicular lymphoma (FL) that has come back or that did not respond to previous treatment after receiving 2 or more treatments. EPKINLY is approved based on patient response data. Studies are ongoing to confirm the clinical benefit of EPKINLY. It is not known if EPKINLY is safe and effective in children.

Important Warnings—EPKINLY can cause serious side effects, including:

• Cytokine release syndrome (CRS), which is common during treatment with EPKINLY and can be serious or life-threatening. To help reduce your risk of CRS, you will receive EPKINLY on a step-up dosing schedule (when you receive 2 or 3 smaller step-up doses of EPKINLY before your first full dose during your first cycle of treatment), and you may also receive other medicines before and for 3 days after receiving EPKINLY. If your dose of EPKINLY is delayed for any reason, you may need to repeat the step-up dosing schedule.
• Neurologic problems that can be life-threatening and lead to death. Neurologic problems may happen days or weeks after you receive EPKINLY.

People with DLBCL or high-grade B-cell lymphoma should be hospitalized for 24 hours after receiving their first full dose of EPKINLY on day 15 of cycle 1 due to the risk of CRS and neurologic problems.

Tell your healthcare provider or get medical help right away if you develop a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher; dizziness or lightheadedness; trouble breathing; chills; fast heartbeat; feeling anxious; headache; confusion; shaking (tremors); problems with balance and movement, such as trouble walking; trouble speaking or writing; confusion and disorientation; drowsiness, tiredness or lack of energy; muscle weakness; seizures; or memory loss. These may be symptoms of CRS or neurologic problems. If you have any symptoms that impair consciousness, do not drive or use heavy machinery or do other dangerous activities until your symptoms go away.

EPKINLY can cause other serious side effects, including:

• Infections that may lead to death. Your healthcare provider will check you for signs and symptoms of infection before and during treatment and treat you as needed if you develop an infection. You should receive medicines from your healthcare provider before you start treatment to help prevent infection. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any symptoms of infection during treatment, including fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, cough, chest pain, tiredness, shortness of breath, painful rash, sore throat, pain during urination, or feeling weak or generally unwell.
• Low blood cell counts, which can be serious or severe. Your healthcare provider will check your blood cell counts during treatment. EPKINLY may cause low blood cell counts, including low white blood cells (neutropenia), which can increase your risk for infection; low red blood cells (anemia), which can cause tiredness and shortness of breath; and low platelets (thrombocytopenia), which can cause bruising or bleeding problems.

Your healthcare provider will monitor you for symptoms of CRS, neurologic problems, infections, and low blood cell counts during treatment with EPKINLY. Your healthcare provider may temporarily stop or completely stop treatment with EPKINLY if you develop certain side effects.

Before you receive EPKINLY, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you have an infection, are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. If you receive EPKINLY while pregnant, it may harm your unborn baby. If you are a female who can become pregnant, your healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with EPKINLY and you should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment and for 4 months after your last dose of EPKINLY. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant or think that you may be pregnant during treatment with EPKINLY. Do not breastfeed during treatment with EPKINLY and for 4 months after your last dose of EPKINLY.

In DLBCL or high-grade B-cell lymphoma, the most common side effects of EPKINLY include CRS, tiredness, muscle and bone pain, injection site reactions, fever, stomach-area (abdominal) pain, nausea, and diarrhea. The most common severe abnormal laboratory test results include decreased white blood cells, decreased red blood cells, and decreased platelets.

In follicular lymphoma the most common side effects of EPKINLY include injection site reactions, CRS, COVID-19, tiredness, upper respiratory tract infections, muscle and bone pain, rash, diarrhea, fever, cough, and headache. The most common severe abnormal laboratory test results include decreased white blood cells and decreased red blood cells.

These are not all of the possible side effects of EPKINLY. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report side effects to the FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch or to Genmab US, Inc. at 1-855-4GENMAB (1-855-443-6622).

Please see Full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide, including Important Warnings.

Globally, prescribing information varies; refer to the individual country product label for complete information.

About Genmab

Genmab is an international biotechnology company with a core purpose of guiding its unstoppable team to strive toward improving the lives of patients with innovative and differentiated antibody therapeutics. For 25 years, its passionate, innovative and collaborative team has invented next-generation antibody technology platforms and leveraged translational, quantitative and data sciences, resulting in a proprietary pipeline including bispecific T-cell engagers, antibody-drug conjugates, next-generation immune checkpoint modulators and effector function-enhanced antibodies. By 2030, Genmab’s vision is to transform the lives of people with cancer and other serious diseases with knock-your-socks-off (KYSO^®) antibody medicines.

Established in 1999, Genmab is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, with international presence across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. For more information, please visit Genmab.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X.

This Media Release contains forward looking statements. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend” and “plan” and similar expressions identify forward looking statements. Actual results or performance may differ materially from any future results or performance expressed or implied by such statements. The important factors that could cause our actual results or performance to differ materially include, among others, risks associated with preclinical and clinical development of products, uncertainties related to the outcome and conduct of clinical trials including unforeseen safety issues, uncertainties related to product manufacturing, the lack of market acceptance of our products, our inability to manage growth, the competitive environment in relation to our business area and markets, our inability to attract and retain suitably qualified personnel, the unenforceability or lack of protection of our patents and proprietary rights, our relationships with affiliated entities, changes and developments in technology which may render our products or technologies obsolete, and other factors. For a further discussion of these risks, please refer to the risk management sections in Genmab’s most recent financial reports, which are available on www.genmab.com and the risk factors included in Genmab’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which are available at www.sec.gov. Genmab does not undertake any obligation to update or revise forward looking statements in this Media Release nor to confirm such statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances after the date made or in relation to actual results, unless required by law.

Genmab A/S and/or its subsidiaries own the following trademarks: Genmab^®; the Y-shaped Genmab logo^®; Genmab in combination with the Y-shaped Genmab logo^®; HuMax^®; DuoBody^®; HexaBody^®; DuoHexaBody^®, HexElect^® and KYSO™. EPCORE^®, EPKINLY^®, TEPKINLY^® and their designs are trademarks of AbbVie Biotechnology Ltd.

ⁱ Maurer M. The International Prognostic Index in aggressive B-cell lymphoma. Haematologica. 2023 Nov 1;108(11):2874–2879. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2023.284070
ⁱⁱ Dr. Falchi has financial interests related to Genmab and AbbVie.
ⁱⁱⁱ Lymphoma Research Foundation. Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma. Accessed November 2024. https://lymphoma.org/understanding-lymphoma/aboutlymphoma/nhl/dlbcl/
^iv Padala, et al. Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma. StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan. 2023 Apr 24.
^v Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL). Accessed November 2024. https://www.lls.org/research/diffuse-large-b-cell-lymphoma-dlbcl
^vi Sehn, et al. Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma. N Engl J Med. 2021;384:842-858. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra2027612.
^vii Kanas, et al. Epidemiology of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) and Follicular Lymphoma (FL) in the United States and Western Europe: Population-Level Projections for 2020-2025. Leuk Lymphoma. 2022;63(1):54-63. doi: 10.1080/10428194.2021.1975188.
^viii Sehn LH, Salles G. Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma. N Engl J Med. 2021;384:842-858. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMra2027612.
^ix Crump, et al. Outcomes in Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Results From the International SCHOLAR-1 Study. Blood. 2017;130(16):1800-1808. doi: 10.1182/blood-2017-03-769620.
^x Engelberts PJ, Hiemstra IH, de Jong B, et al. DuoBody-CD3xCD20 induces potent T-cell-mediated killing of malignant B cells in preclinical models and provides opportunities for subcutaneous dosing. EBioMedicine. 2020;52:102625. DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.102625.

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T: +1 609 430 2481; E: dafr@genmab.com

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Source: Genmab A/S

FAQ

What were the response rates for epcoritamab in the EPCORE NHL-2 trial for DLBCL (GMAB)?

The trial showed a 100% overall response rate and 87% complete response rate in high-risk patients with previously untreated DLBCL when epcoritamab was combined with R-CHOP therapy.

How long did responses last in the EPCORE NHL-1 trial for GMAB's epcoritamab?

In the NHL-1 trial, among patients who achieved complete response, 52% were still responding at three years, with a median complete response duration of 36.1 months.

What were the main side effects of epcoritamab (GMAB) in clinical trials?

The main side effects included cytokine release syndrome (51% of patients), fatigue (25%), and pyrexia (25%). Some patients experienced serious adverse events, including fatal cases primarily due to COVID-19.

What was the MRD negativity rate in GMAB's EPCORE NHL-2 trial?

The minimal residual disease (MRD) analysis showed MRD negativity was achieved in 91% of evaluable patients (30/33), indicating no detectable disease.