Epcoritamab for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
(EPCORE™ CLL-1 Trial)
Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)
+89 other locations
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Travel: May Be Covered
Time Reimbursement: Varies
Trial Phase: Phase 1 & 2
Recruiting
Sponsor: Genmab
Must not be taking: Immunosuppressants, Live vaccines
Disqualifiers: Autoimmune disease, Cardiac disease, HIV, others
No Placebo Group
Breakthrough Therapy
Approved in 2 Jurisdictions
Trial Summary
What is the purpose of this trial?The study is a global, multi-center safety and efficacy trial of epcoritamab, an antibody also known as EPKINLY™ and GEN3013 (DuoBody®-CD3xCD20). Epcoritamab will either be studied as:
* Monotherapy, or
* Combination therapy for relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (R/R CLL):
* epcoritamab + venetoclax
* epcoritamab + pirtobrutinib
* Combination therapy for Richter's Syndrome (RS):
* epcoritamab + lenalidomide
* epcoritamab + R-CHOP (i.e., rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin hydrochloride, vincristine \[Oncovin®\] and prednisone).
The study includes participants with R/R CLL/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) and participants with RS.
The trial consists of two parts, a dose-escalation phase (phase Ib) and an expansion phase (phase II). Participants with RS are only included in the expansion phase.
Epcoritamab will be injected subcutaneously (under the skin). Standard-of-care and combination treatments (venetoclax, pirtobrutinib, lenalidomide, and R-CHOP) will be given either orally (by mouth) or intravenously (in a vein).
Study details include:
* Study duration will be up to 5 years after the last participant's first treatment in the trial.
* The treatment duration for each participant will be between 12 months (1 year) and 24 months (2 years), depending upon the treatment arm assigned.
* The visit frequency will be either weekly, every other week, or monthly, depending upon the part of the study.
All participants will receive active drug; no one will be given placebo.
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial information does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, certain prior treatments like CD3×CD20 bispecific antibodies, recent CAR T-cell therapy, or venetoclax within 24 months may exclude you from participation. It's best to discuss your current medications with the trial team.
What data supports the effectiveness of the drug Epcoritamab for treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia?
While there is no direct data on Epcoritamab for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), similar treatments targeting B-cell pathways, like BTK and BCL2 inhibitors, have shown success in CLL. These treatments have improved outcomes by targeting specific pathways that help cancer cells survive, suggesting potential for Epcoritamab, which also targets B-cells.
12345What is known about the safety of Epcoritamab for human use?
There is no specific safety data available for Epcoritamab in the provided research articles.
678910What makes the drug Epcoritamab unique for treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia?
Epcoritamab is unique because it is a monoclonal antibody that targets CD20, a protein on the surface of B-cells, which are involved in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. This drug offers a novel approach by potentially providing a chemo-free treatment option, differing from traditional chemotherapy regimens.
311121314Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia or Richter's Syndrome who have tried other treatments. They must have a life expectancy over 3 months, acceptable organ function, and specific performance status. Prior therapies are required for certain arms of the study, and they must not have had certain conditions like HIV or recent major surgery.Inclusion Criteria
I have CLL and have had at least one treatment before considering venetoclax.
I am eligible for R-CHOP treatment.
My bloodwork shows my organs are functioning well.
+10 more
Exclusion Criteria
I have a serious heart condition.
I took venetoclax in the last 2 years and my condition worsened on it.
I have had more than 2 treatments for my condition before considering this therapy.
+11 more
Trial Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
2-4 weeks
Dose Escalation
Determine the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) and the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) for epcoritamab monotherapy and epcoritamab + venetoclax in participants with R/R CLL.
1-2 months
Weekly visits
Safety Run-in
Evaluate the safety and tolerability profiles of pirtobrutinib in combination with epcoritamab.
1-2 months
Weekly visits
Expansion
Assess and evaluate the preliminary efficacy, safety, and tolerability profiles of various combinations of epcoritamab in participants with R/R CLL/SLL and RS.
12-24 months
Weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly visits
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment
Up to 5 years
Participant Groups
Epcoritamab is being tested both alone and in combination with venetoclax, lenalidomide, or R-CHOP (rituximab/cyclophosphamide/doxorubicin/vincristine/prednisone) to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia and Richter's Syndrome. The trial has two phases: dose escalation to find safe levels and expansion to test effectiveness.
7Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Fixed Duration Epcoritamab in R/R CLL/SLLExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Only in expansion phase.
Group II: Epcoritamab in RSExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Only in expansion phase.
Group III: Epcoritamab in R/R CLL/SLLExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
In both study phases. Participants in the expansion phase will be treated at the RP2D defined in the dose-escalation phase.
Group IV: Epcoritamab + Venetoclax in R/R CLL/SLLExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
In both study phases. Participants in the expansion phase will be treated at the RP2D defined in the dose-escalation phase.
Group V: Epcoritamab + R-CHOP in RSExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
Only in expansion phase.
Group VI: Epcoritamab + Pirtobrutinib in R/R CLL/SLLExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
Safety run-in and expansion phases.
Group VII: Epcoritamab + Lenalidomide in RSExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
Only in expansion phase.
Epcoritamab is already approved in United States, European Union for the following indications:
🇺🇸 Approved in United States as Epkinly for:
- Relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy
- Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy
🇪🇺 Approved in European Union as Tepkinly for:
- Relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy
- Relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy
Find a Clinic Near You
Research Locations NearbySelect from list below to view details:
Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLos Angeles, CA
Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer CenterColumbus, OH
Stanford University School of MedicineStanford, CA
University of California Davis Medical Center SacramentoCalifornia City, CA
More Trial Locations
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Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
GenmabLead Sponsor
Eli Lilly and CompanyIndustry Sponsor
AbbVieIndustry Sponsor
References
Update of the Grupo Español de Leucemia Linfocítica Crónica clinical guidelines of the management of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. [2021]The broad therapeutic arsenal and the biological heterogeneity of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) makes it difficult to standardize treatment for CLL patients with specific clinical settings in routine clinical practice. These considerations prompted us to elaborate the present consensus document, which constitutes an update of the previous version published in 2013, mainly focusing on novel treatment strategies that have been developed over last 5 years, namely B-cell receptor inhibitors (ibrutinib and idelalisib), anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (ofatumumab and obinutuzumab), and Bcl-2 inhibitors (venetoclax).
B-cell antigen receptor signaling in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: therapeutic targets and translational opportunities. [2019]B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is characterized by clonally expanded and molecularly heterogeneous populations of B lymphocytes with impaired apoptotic mechanisms. This occurs as a result of multiple genetic and epigenetic abnormalities, including chromosomal aberrations and enhancer region hypomethylation, often impinging on intracellular signaling pathways that are essential to normal B-cell activation, proliferation, and survival. The B-cell antigen receptor (BCR) signaling is one such pathway usurped by malignant B cells, as exemplified by the early phase clinical success achieved by small-molecule agents targeting key players involved in the pathway. Such new targeted agents, including those that inhibit the function of Spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK), Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3K), and B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2), along with the current standard therapy comprising chemo-immunotherapies with or without B-cell depleting biologic agent rituximab (anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody), should expand the armamentarium for CLL therapy. We review the therapeutic agents currently in clinical development which target different effectors of the malignant BCR signaling, and discuss their overlapping and discriminating translational opportunities in the context of CLL treatment.
Dual-targeted regimens for the frontline treatment of CLL. [2023]The treatment landscape of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has evolved considerably over the past decade due to the development of effective novel agents with varying mechanisms of action, including Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) and B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) inhibitors. Extrapolating upon the success of anti-CD20-directed chemoimmunotherapy, a dual-targeted approach has been explored in treatment-naive patients with CLL. Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody combinations with BTK inhibitors as well as BCL2 inhibitors have demonstrated superiority over traditional cytotoxic chemoimmunotherapy regimens such as fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab; bendamustine-rituximab; and obinutuzumab-chlorambucil. Impressive clinical benefit is seen in both younger and older patients, those with comorbidities, and, most importantly, those with poor prognostic features. Given this success, combinations of BTK inhibitors and venetoclax have been explored in clinical trials. These dual-targeted regimens provide remarkable efficacy while allowing for an all-oral approach and fixed duration of treatment. Current investigations under way are evaluating the utility of a triplet approach with the addition of obinutuzumab in comparison to a doublet approach.
Novel Therapies in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Rapidly Changing Landscape. [2021]Treatment landscape of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has changed since 2014 after the introduction of inhibitors of B-cell receptor signaling pathway (ibrutinib, acalabrutinib, idelalisib and duvelisib) and the inhibitor of the anti-apoptotic protein BCL-2 (venetoclax). In 2019, novel agents were upgraded from being a "great treatment option" to the "preferred choice" for all lines of treatment after number of randomized clinical trials proved their superiority compared to conventional chemoimmunotherapy (CIT) regimens. A growing number of next-generation molecules are in clinical trials with a promise of improved efficacy and less toxicity. This includes agents with expected better safety profile (zanubrutinib, umbralisib, etc.) or more importantly with a potential to overcome the resistance mechanism to early generation agents (ARQ-531, LOXO-305, or vecabrutinib). Early intervention has once again become an active topic of research and, if proven to provide an overall survival benefit, will eliminate the "watch and wait" strategy for asymptomatic CLL patients. Until then, treatment should only be offered to patients who meet the standard treatment indication in standard practice. With our upgraded therapeutic toolbox, there are and will be many unanswered questions. CLL field will need to define the optimal treatment sequence and most effective combinations with a goal of having a time-limited and chemotherapy-free regimen that provides longest remissions and potentially cure. Cellular immunotherapy with chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) may become available for high-risk CLL along with allogeneic stem cell transplant (allo-SCT). Financial toxicity of novel agents especially when used in combination will need to be an important aspect of research in coming years to avoid unnecessary overtreatment of patients. As current prognostic models (CLL-IPI, etc.) were developed and validated in the CIT era, there is ongoing effort to develop new models using clinical and molecular characteristics to accurately define high-risk CLL in the era of novel agents. We all need to keep in mind that access to the novel agents is currently limited to certain developed countries and every effort should be made to make sure patients around the world also benefit from these outstanding drugs.
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Chemotherapy Free and Other Novel Therapies Including CAR T. [2022]Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common leukemia in adults. Most individuals diagnosed with CLL will not need treatment immediately but over time the clonal B cells infiltrate the bone marrow, lymph nodes, liver, and spleen, causing anemia, thrombocytopenia, systemic symptoms, and increased risk for infections. When clonal B cells begin adversely affecting other organs, treatment is warranted. Therapy for CLL has undergone a paradigm shift away from chemotherapy-based regimens to targeted therapy with small-molecule inhibitors. B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling plays a key role in CLL. BCR signaling occurs via many factors including Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphonate phosphodiesterase gamma-2 (PLCγ2), and CD19. CLL cells also express high levels of B-cell lymphoma or leukemia 2 (BCL2). Drugs that interfere with these pathways, such as ibrutinib, venetoclax, and idelalisib, have improved clinical outcomes. For any CLL patient that meets criteria for treatment, after evaluating for prognostic cytogenetic abnormalities, oral BTK inhibitors or venetoclax in combination with anti-CD20 therapy are considered first-line therapy. It is important to note that these novel therapies are particularly preferred for patients with TP53 mutations or deletion of the small arm of chromosome 17 (del(17p)), as those patients usually are chemotherapy refractory or display short remissions to chemotherapy. Nevertheless, patients without high-risk features such as TP53 abnormalities also benefit from novel agents. Following relapse, depending on the primary oral agent used, BTK inhibitors, venetoclax in combination with anti-CD20 antibodies, or PI3K inhibitors are preferred.
The dark side of immunotherapy. [2022]Immunotherapy has broadened the therapeutic scope and response for many cancer patients with drugs that are generally of higher efficacy and less toxicity than prior therapies. Multiple classes of immunotherapies such as targeted antibodies and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), cell-based immunotherapies, immunomodulators, vaccines, and oncolytic viruses have been developed to help the immune system target and destroy malignant tumors. ICI targeting programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) or its ligand (PD-L1) are among the most effective immunotherapy agents and are a major focus of current investigations. They have received approval for at least 16 different tumor types as well as for unresectable or metastatic tumors with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficiency or with high tumor mutational burden (defined as ≥10 mutations/megabase). However, it is important to recognize that immunotherapy may be associated with significant adverse events. To summarize these events, we conducted a PubMed and Google Scholar database search through April 2020 for manuscripts evaluating treatment-related adverse events and knowledge gaps associated with the use of immunotherapy. Reviewed topics include immune-related adverse events (irAEs), toxicities on combining immunotherapy with other agents, disease reactivation such as tuberculosis (TB) and sarcoid-like granulomatosis, tumor hyperprogression (HPD), financial toxicity, challenges in special patient populations such as solid organ transplant recipients and those with auto-immune diseases. We also reviewed reports of worse or even lethal outcomes compared to other oncologic therapies in certain scenarios and summarized biomarkers predicting adverse events.
Long-term safety profile of belimumab plus standard therapy in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. [2013]To evaluate the safety profile of long-term belimumab therapy combined with standard therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in patients with active disease.
Characterisation of the safety profile of evobrutinib in over 1000 patients from phase II clinical trials in multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus: an integrated safety analysis. [2023]Analyse the integrated safety profile of evobrutinib, a Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi), using pooled data from multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) trials.
Cancer Immunotherapy: Factors Important for the Evaluation of Safety in Nonclinical Studies. [2019]The development of novel therapies that can harnass the immune system to eradicate cancer is an area of intensive research. Several new biopharmaceuticals that target the immune system rather than the tumor itself have recently been approved and fundamentally transformed treatment of many cancer diseases. This success has intensified the search for new targets and modalities that could be developed as even more effective therapeutic agents either as monotherapy or in combination. While great benefits of novel immunotherapies in oncology are evident, the safety of these therapies has to also be addressed as their desired pharmacology, immune activation, can lead to "exaggerated" effects and toxicity. This review is focused on the unique challenges of the nonclinical safety assessment of monoclonal antibodies that target immune checkpoint inhibitors and costimulatory molecules. This class of molecules represents several approved drugs and many more drug candidates in clinical development, for which significant experience has been gained. Their development illustrates challenges regarding the predictivity of the animal models for assessing safety and setting starting doses for first-in-human trials as well as the translatability of nonclinical in vitro and in vivo data to the human findings. Based on learnings from the experience to date, factors to consider and novel approaches to explore are discussed to help address the unique safety issues of immuno-oncology drug development.
Improved survival and tumor control with Interleukin-2 is associated with the development of immune-related adverse events: data from the PROCLAIMSM registry. [2018]Label="BACKGROUND">Immune related adverse events (irAEs) are associated with immunotherapy for cancer and while results suggest improvement in tumor control and overall survival in those experiencing irAEs, the long-term impact is debated. We evaluated irAE reports related to high dose interleukin-2 therapy (IL-2) documented in the PROCLAIMSM registry data base from 2008 to 2016 (NCT01415167, August 9, 2011).
Combination of Targeted Drugs to Control Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Harnessing the Power of New Monoclonal Antibodies in Combination With Ibrutinib. [2021]The landscape of treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia is rapidly changing at present. Considerable improvement has been achieved with the introduction of the anti-CD20 antibodies, and chemoimmunotherapy has now become an established standard for patients without the high-risk features del(17p)/TP53 mutation. Also, the outcome of patients with these adverse genetic aberrations was dramatically improved with the introduction of the kinase inhibitors ibrutinib and idelalisib. Different combinations of these and additional novel agents are currently evaluated in clinical trials. The combination of the Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor ibrutinib with an anti-CD20 antibody is an attractive option, because both drugs act synergistically: ibrutinib redistributes the CLL cells from their homing organs to the peripheral blood, and obinutuzumab eliminates the leukemic cells in the blood with particular efficiency. Adding the Bcl-2 antagonist venetoclax could further intensify the treatment of CLL. This combination might hold the potential to achieve a deep remission with an eradication of residual CLL cells and thus lead to long-term remissions of CLL.
Novel monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. [2019]For many years, alkylating agents and purine nucleoside analogs (PNA) have been considered the drug of choice for treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). More recently the introduction of monoclonal antibodies (mAb), especially rituximab directed against CD20 and alemtuzumab directed against CD52, has renewed interest in CLL therapy. Over the last few years, several new mAbs directed against lymphoid cells have been developed and investigated in preclinical studies and clinical trials. Some of them are highly active in CLL. New mAbs directed against CD20 include human mAb ofatumumab (HuMax CD20), IMMU-106 (hA20) which has a >90% humanized framework and GA-101, a novel third - generation fully humanized and optimized mAb. These agents are highly cytotoxic against B-cell lymphoid cells and are evaluated in CLL. Lumiliximab (anti-CD23 mAb) is a genetically engineered macaque-human immunoglobulin (Ig) A1. This antibody showed high activity and good tolerability in phase I clinical trial and is evaluated in phase I/II clinical trials as a single agent and in combination. Epratuzumab is a humanized anti-CD22 mAb currently used in clinical trials for treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and autoimmune disorders. Further studies are needed to elucidate the role of this agent in CLL. Apolizumab (HU1D10) is a humanized IgG1 antibody specific for a polymorphic determinant found on the HLA-DRbeta chain. Preclinical and early clinical studies suggest that this mAb has some activity in CLL. HCD122 (CHIR-12.12) and SGN-40 are anti-CD40 mAbs which induce cytotoxicity against CLL cells. Phase I study has shown a favorable safety profile and some activity of HCD122 in pretreated CLL patients. Immunotoxins, especially BL22, LMP-2 and denileukin diftitox, are also being evaluated in lymphoid malignancies and seem to be active in CLL. Finally, antiangiogenic mAbs, especially bevacimzumab, have a potential therapeutic role in this disease. In this review, new mAbs, potentially useful in CLL are presented.
Efficacy and safety of add-on anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody to Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a meta-analysis. [2023]The efficacy of Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKi) remains suboptimal in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) treatment. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to compare the outcomes of combining anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) with BTKi therapy versus BTKi monotherapy for patients with CLL. We searched for relevant studies in the Pubmed, Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases until December 2022. We estimated the effective results using a hazard ratio (HR) for survival outcomes and relative risk (RR) for response outcomes and safety. Four randomized controlled trials (including 1056 patients) were found until November 2022 and fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Progression-free survival was significantly improved with the addition of anti-CD20 mAb to BTKi over BTKi (HR 0.70, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.51-0.97), whereas pooled analysis of overall survival did not favor combination therapy compared to BTKi monotherapy (HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.50-1.04). Combination therapy was related to a statistically better complete response (RR, 2.03; 95% CI 1.01 to 4.06) and an undetectable minimal residual disease rate (RR, 6.43; 95% CI 3.54 to 11.67). The risk of grade ≥ 3 adverse events was comparable between the two groups (RR, 1.08; (95% CI 0.80 to 1.45). Overall, adding anti-CD20 mAb to BTKi revealed superior efficacy than BTKi alone in untreated or previously treated CLL patients without affecting the safety of single-agent BTKi. Conducting further randomized studies to confirm our results and determine the optimal therapy for managing patients with CLL is essential.
[Chronic lymphatic leukemia]. [2021]Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common form of leukemia in the Western world. Median age at diagnosis is around 70 years. To confirm the diagnosis more than 5000 B-lymphocytes/µl need to be present. The expression of the typical surface markers CD5, CD19, CD20 and CD23 has to be confirmed by flow cytometry. A bone marrow biopsy is not mandatory for the diagnosis. Before start of treatment the assessment of 17 p deletion and/or TP53-mutational status is recommended. Treatment indications include stage Binet C or signs of an active disease as rapidly progressive lymphadenopathy or organomegaly together with physical limitation, B symptoms that cannot be tolerated, rapidly deteriorating blood values, or rapidly increasing leukocyte counts (Lymphocyte doubling time less than 6 months). The patient's physical condition has major impact on the treatment decision. Currently immunochemotherapy with fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and the CD20-antibody rituximab (FCR) is the standard of care in previously untreated and physically fit patients. An alternative regimen is the combination of bendamustine and rituximab (BR) or ofatumumab. Physically compromised patients can be treated with the oral drug chlorambucil in combination with an anti-CD20 antibody. Due to high morbidity and mortality, allogeneic stem cell transplantation is limited to a small group of patients and should be discussed in a high-risk situation, such as 17 p deletion and/or TP53-mutation, lack of response to standard therapy or early relapse. Recently several new chemo-free treatment options have been introduced within clinical trials. Among them are monoclonal antibodies, most of them targeting the CD20 molecule: besides the licensed drugs rituximab and ofatumumab, obinutuzumab, in combination with chemotherapy, has recently shown high clinical efficacy in front-line treatment of elderly patients with CLL. Novel agents have been designed to block aberrant signaling from the B-cell receptor. Ibrutinib acts by inhibiting the Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) while idelalisib represents a first-in-class specific inhibitor of the phosphoinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) delta isoform. Another class of drugs with potential impact for chemo-free treatment strategies in CLL is the BH3-mimetic inhibitor of the Bcl-2 family of pro-survival proteins, ABT-199. Given all these novel agents and targets, chemo-free or at least chemo-reduced concepts may become reality in the near future for our patients suffering from CLL.