Phase 3 SELENE study: ibrutinib plus BR/R-CHOP in previously treated patients with follicular or marginal zone lymphoma.

The phase 3 SELENE study evaluated ibrutinib + chemoimmunotherapy (CIT; bendamustine and rituximab [BR]; or rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone [R-CHOP]) for patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) follicular lymphoma (FL) or marginal zone lymphoma (MZL). Adult patients who had received ≥1 prior line of CIT were randomized 1:1 to oral ibrutinib (560 mg) or placebo daily, plus 6 cycles of BR/R-CHOP. The primary end point was investigator-assessed progression-free survival (PFS). Overall, 403 patients were randomized to ibrutinib + CIT (n = 202) or placebo + CIT (n = 201). Most patients received BR (90.3%) and had FL (86.1%). With a median follow-up of 84 months, median PFS was 40.5 months in the ibrutinib + CIT arm and 23.8 months in the placebo + CIT arm (hazard ratio [HR], 0.806; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.626-1.037; P = .0922). Median overall survival was not reached in either arm (HR, 0.980; 95% CI, 0.686-1.400). Grade ≥3 treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were reported in 85.6% and 75.4% of patients in the ibrutinib + CIT and placebo + CIT arms, respectively. In each arm, 13 patients had TEAEs leading to death. The addition of ibrutinib to CIT did not significantly improve PFS compared with placebo + CIT. The safety profile was consistent with known profiles of ibrutinib and CIT. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT01974440.

Ibrutinib plus Bendamustine and Rituximab in Untreated Mantle-Cell Lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Ibrutinib, a Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor, may have clinical benefit when administered in combination with bendamustine and rituximab and followed by rituximab maintenance therapy in older patients with untreated mantle-cell lymphoma. METHODS: We randomly assigned patients 65 years of age or older to receive ibrutinib (560 mg, administered orally once daily until disease progression or unacceptable toxic effects) or placebo, plus six cycles of bendamustine (90 mg per square meter of body-surface area) and rituximab (375 mg per square meter). Patients with an objective response (complete or partial response) received rituximab maintenance therapy, administered every 8 weeks for up to 12 additional doses. The primary end point was progression-free survival as assessed by the investigators. Overall survival and safety were also assessed. RESULTS: Among 523 patients, 261 were randomly assigned to receive ibrutinib and 262 to receive placebo. At a median follow-up of 84.7 months, the median progression-free survival was 80.6 months in the ibrutinib group and 52.9 months in the placebo group (hazard ratio for disease progression or death, 0.75; 95% confidence interval, 0.59 to 0.96; P = 0.01). The percentage of patients with a complete response was 65.5% in the ibrutinib group and 57.6% in the placebo group (P = 0.06). Overall survival was similar in the two groups. The incidence of grade 3 or 4 adverse events during treatment was 81.5% in the ibrutinib group and 77.3% in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: Ibrutinib treatment in combination with standard chemoimmunotherapy significantly prolonged progression-free survival. The safety profile of the combined therapy was consistent with the known profiles of the individual drugs. (Funded by Janssen Research and Development and Pharmacyclics; SHINE ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01776840.).

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of C6-carbazate ketolides.

A novel series of ketolides containing heteroaryl groups that are linked to the erythronolide ring via a C6-carbazate functionality has been successfully synthesized. Careful modulation of the heteroaryl groups, the length and degree of saturation of the C6-carbazate linker, and the substituents present on each of the carbazate nitrogens led to compounds with potent activity against key bacterial respiratory pathogens. The best analogs of this series had in vitro and in vivo (sc dosing) profiles that were comparable to telithromycin.

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of 3-O-acyl-6-O-carbamoyl erythromycin A derivatives.

A series of 3-O-acyl-6-O-carbamoyl erythromycin A derivatives has been synthesized. Several functional groups were identified as the optimal C3-substituents, and the best compounds in this series possess potent in vitro antibacterial activity against erythromycin-susceptible and erythromycin-resistant bacteria.

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of C2-fluoro, C6-carbamate ketolides, and their C9-oximes.

Novel C6-carbamate ketolides with C2-fluorination and C9-oximation have been synthesized. The best compounds in this series displayed MIC values of 0.03-0.12 microg/mL against streptococci containing erm and mef resistance determinants and 2-4 microg/mL against Haemophilus influenzae. Several compounds also showed measurable activity against erm(B)-containing enterococci with MIC values of 2-8 microg/mL. In vivo activity was adversely affected by fluorination, possibly as a result of increased serum protein binding.

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of C-6 carbamate ketolides, a novel series of orally active ketolide antibiotics.

A new series of antibacterial ketolides is reported, which features the use of a C-6 carbamate for tethering the arylalkyl sidechain to the macrolide core. The best members of this series display in vitro and in vivo activity comparable to telithromycin. Partial epimerization at C-2, unobserved in previously reported ketolides, was noted for this series.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of 3,5-diarylisoxazoles and 3,5-diaryl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles, novel classes of small molecule interleukin-8 (IL-8) receptor antagonists.

A novel series of 3,5-diarylisoxazole and 3,5-diaryl-1,2,4-oxadiazole IL-8 inhibitors has been identified. These compounds exhibit activity in an IL-8 binding assay as well as in a functional assay of IL-8 induced elastase release from neutrophils. In addition, one of the compounds exhibits oral activity in a rat adjuvant arthritis model.