Randomized phase 2 study of otlertuzumab and bendamustine versus bendamustine in patients with relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

Otlertuzumab (TRU-016) is a humanized anti-CD37 protein therapeutic that triggers direct caspase-independent apoptosis of malignant B cells and induces antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Patients with relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) received either otlertuzumab (20 mg/kg) weekly by IV infusion for two 28-day cycles then every 14 days for four 28-day cycles and IV bendamustine (70 mg/m2 ) on Days 1 and 2 of each cycle for up to six 28-day cycles or bendamustine alone. Thirty-two patients were treated with otlertuzumab and bendamustine and 33 with bendamustine alone. Overall response rate according to the International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia criteria was 69% in the otlertuzumab and bendamustine arm and 39% in the bendamustine alone arm (P = 0·025). Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 15·9 months in the otlertuzumab and bendamustine arm and 10·2 months in the bendamustine alone arm (P = 0·0192). There was a higher incidence of pyrexia (34% vs. 12%) and neutropenia (59% vs. 39%) with the combination but this did not result in a higher incidence of severe (grade 3/4) infections (13% vs. 27%). This combination significantly increased the response rate and prolonged the PFS over single agent bendamustine in patients with relapsed or refractory CLL.

A phase 1 study evaluating the safety and tolerability of otlertuzumab, an anti-CD37 mono-specific ADAPTIR therapeutic protein in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Otlertuzumab is a novel humanized anti-CD37 protein therapeutic. This study evaluated the safety of otlertuzumab administered intravenously to patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Otlertuzumab was administered weekly for up to 8 weeks followed by 1 dose per month for 4 months ranging from 0.03 to 20 mg/kg in the dose-escalation phase and 10 to 30 mg/kg in the dose-expansion phase. Responses were determined by using the 1996 National Cancer Institute (NCI-96) and 2008 International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (IWCLL) criteria. Fifty-seven patients were treated in the dose-escalation phase and 26 in the dose-expansion phase. A maximum-tolerated dose was not identified. Response occurred in 19 (23%) of 83 treated patients by NCI-96 criteria. All responses were partial and occurred more commonly in patients with symptomatic untreated CLL (6/7) or 1 to 2 prior therapies (12/28) vs 3 or more therapies (1/48). Twenty percent (12/61) with serial computed tomography scan assessment had a response per IWCLL criteria. The most frequent adverse events were infusion reactions, fatigue, nausea, and diarrhea and were not dose related. Otlertuzumab was well tolerated, and modest clinical activity was observed. Otlertuzumab warrants further evaluation in combination with other agents for the treatment of CLL. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00614042.

Otlertuzumab (TRU-016), an anti-CD37 monospecific ADAPTIR(™) therapeutic protein, for relapsed or refractory NHL patients.

CD37 is cell surface tetraspanin present on normal and malignant B cells. Otlertuzumab (TRU-016) is a novel humanized anti-CD37 protein therapeutic. Patients with relapsed or refractory follicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma (FL), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), or Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia (WM) received otlertuzumab at 20 mg/kg administered intravenously once a week for up to 8 weeks followed by 4 monthly doses. Sixteen patients were treated; median age was 62·5 years (range, 41-81), and median number of prior regimens was 4 (range, 1-7). Twelve patients were refractory to prior treatment, 5 were refractory to rituximab. The mean terminal half-life was 9·5 days. Lymph node reduction of ≥50% by computerized tomography scan measurements was seen in 3 of 12 patients, including one FL patient who had a partial response. One WM patient had a minor response. The most frequent adverse events were neutropenia, fatigue, nausea, thrombocytopenia, diarrhoea, and peripheral oedema; most were grade 1/2. Otlertuzumab treatment appears to have been well tolerated by the patients in this study. Clinical activity was observed in this small heterogeneous cohort of highly refractory, heavily pretreated B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients. These data suggest that further clinical investigation in non-Hodgkin lymphoma is warranted.

Phase 1b study of otlertuzumab (TRU-016), an anti-CD37 monospecific ADAPTIR™ therapeutic protein, in combination with rituximab and bendamustine in relapsed indolent lymphoma patients.

PURPOSE: CD37 is cell surface tetraspanin present on normal and malignant B cells. Otlertuzumab (TRU-016) is a novel humanized anti-CD37 protein therapeutic that triggers direct caspase independent apoptosis of malignant B cells and induces antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. This study evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of otlertuzumab administered in combination with rituximab and bendamustine to patients with relapsed, indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL). METHODS: Patients with relapsed or refractory NHL received otlertuzumab (10 or 20 mg/kg) intravenously (IV) on days 1 and 15, bendamustine (90 mg/m(2)) on days 1 and 2, and rituximab (375 mg/m(2)) on day 1 for up to six 28 day cycles. Responses were determined using standard criteria. RESULTS: Twelve patients were treated with 6 patients at each dose level; median age was 57 years (range, 51-79), and median number of prior regimens was 3 (range, 1-4). All patients had relapsed after prior rituximab including 7 refractory to their most recent previous treatment. In the 10 and 20 mg/kg dose cohorts, the mean half-life was 8 and 10 days following the first dose, and 12 or 14 days following 12 doses of otlertuzumab, respectively. Overall response rate was 83% (10/12) with 4 CRs (32%). The most frequent adverse events were neutropenia, nausea, fatigue, leukopenia, and insomnia; most were grade 1 or 2. CONCLUSIONS: Otlertuzumab in combination with rituximab and bendamustine was well tolerated and induced responses in the majority of patients with relapsed indolent B-NHL. NCI Clinical Trials Network registration: NCT01317901.