Chemotherapy plus Biogen Idec's Rituxan is the emerging standard of care for this patient population.
When added to the chemotherapy/Rituxan combination regimen, lumiliximab demonstrated a 52% complete response rate in patients who have chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) that was progressing after prior therapy. An overall response rate of 71% was also demonstrated.
In this study, lumiliximab appears to be well tolerated as compared to what would be expected from chemotherapy and Rituxan alone.
Complete response rate is a predictor of progression-free survival in CLL patients. Based on the positive results of the trial, Biogen Idec is initiating a more advanced trial evaluating the lumiliximab early next year.
The treatment regimen was used in this trial because it has been established as the emerging standard of care for CLL patients. A study conducted at The MD Anderson Cancer Center demonstrated that chemotherapy and Rituxan was an active and well-tolerated treatment for previously treated patients with CLL, and achieved a complete response rate of 25%.