US pharmaceutical giant Merck (NYSE: MRK) has revealed promising data from the Phase II waveLINE-007 study for its antibody drug conjugate (ADC) zilovertamab vedotin at the 66th American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting.
Zilovertamab Vedotin’s Potential in Treating DLBCL
Zilovertamab vedotin, an ADC that targets receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1 (ROR1), is currently being assessed in combination with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone plus rituximab (R-CHP) for the treatment of patients with previously untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). A pre-planned analysis of the study showed that the combination of zilovertamab vedotin with R-CHP achieved a 100% complete response (CR) rate in patients treated with the 1.75 mg/kg dose of zilovertamab vedotin. This data has led Merck to determine 1.75 mg/kg as the recommended Phase III dose for zilovertamab vedotin.
Safety Profile of Zilovertamab Vedotin
In terms of safety, serious treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were reported in 11% of all patients across the different dosage groups. Grade 3-4 TRAEs were observed in 58% of all patients. The most common Grade 3-4 TRAEs included neutropenia, nausea, anemia, and diarrhea. These safety data provide valuable insights for the ongoing development and potential future use of zilovertamab vedotin in clinical settings.-Fineline Info & Tech