Epcoritamab Shows Durable Response in Relapsed/Refractory Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Subcutaneous epcoritamab achieved high overall response rates, including deep and durable complete response, in patients with relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Single-agent epcoritamab is a novel, bispecific T-cell-engaging antibody targeting CD3 and CD20. The study investigated the efficacy and safety of subcutaneous epcoritamab in a dose-expansion cohort of 157 adults with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma. Participants, who had at least two prior therapy lines, received epcoritamab in 28-day cycles until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. More than a third of participants had prior chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell exposure.

According to the study, the overall response rate was 63.1% and the complete response rate was 38.9% at a median 10.7-month follow-up. The median duration of response was 12 months, but among patients with complete response, the median duration of response was not reached. 

“An estimated 88.7% of complete responders remained in response at 6 and 9 months,” researchers wrote.

Across key patient subgroups, epcoritamab showed consistent efficacy.

The most common treatment-emergent adverse events were cytokine release syndrome, pyrexia, and fatigue, the study showed. Ten patients experienced immune effector cell–associated neurotoxicity syndrome events, one of which was fatal.

“The observed high response rates with durability in patients with refractory large B-cell lymphoma treated with epcoritamab, including post–chimeric antigen receptor-T therapy, represent further evidence of the value of bispecific antibodies in this setting,” wrote Jonathan W Friedberg, MD, the journal’s editor in chief. “Future studies need to evaluate feasibility of limited duration therapy, explore rational combinations, and incorporate this agent into earlier lines of treatment.”

Reference: 
Thieblemont C, Phillips T, Ghesquieres H, et al. Epcoritamab, a novel, subcutaneous CD3xCD20 bispecific T-cell-engaging antibody, in relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma: dose expansion in a phase I/II trial. J Clin Oncol. 2023;41(12):2238-2247. doi:10.1200/JCO.22.01725