ALX Oncology’s investigational CD47-blocker, evorpacept, combined with rituximab and lenalidomide (R2), showed promising results in a Phase 1/2 trial for relapsed or refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (R/R B-NHL). The combination therapy yielded an 83% complete response (CR) rate in patients with indolent R/R B-NHL, significantly higher than the 34% historical CR rate with R2 alone. The Phase 2 portion of the trial, focusing on previously untreated indolent NHL, has completed enrollment.
This data is potentially practice-changing for oncologists treating B-cell NHL. The substantial increase in CR rates suggests that evorpacept may overcome resistance to R2, a common challenge in this patient population. This could lead to improved long-term outcomes and potentially offer a new first-line treatment option. Furthermore, the observed increase in T cells and anti-tumoral macrophages during treatment provides valuable mechanistic insights into evorpacept’s action, paving the way for future research and combination strategies.
In the Phase 1 trial of 20 patients, evorpacept was administered at two dose levels (30 mg/kg every two weeks or 60 mg/kg every four weeks) alongside standard R2 treatment. The combination was well-tolerated with no dose-limiting toxicities. After a median follow-up of 28 months, the two-year progression-free survival rate was 69%, and the two-year overall survival rate was 84%. The overall response rate was 90%.
These positive results from the Phase 1 study, coupled with the completed enrollment of the Phase 2 portion, position evorpacept as a potential game-changer in the B-NHL treatment landscape. If the Phase 2 trial confirms these findings, evorpacept plus R2 could become a new standard of care, offering patients a more effective and potentially less toxic treatment option. The upcoming results from the Phase 2 trial are highly anticipated and could significantly impact ALX Oncology’s future and the broader field of lymphoma treatment.
Jon Napitupulu is Director of Media Relations at The Clinical Trial Vanguard. Jon, a computer data scientist, focuses on the latest clinical trial industry news and trends.
