Advertise With UsAdvertise on our extensive network of industry websites and newsletters.
Get the PBR newsletterSign up to our free email to get all the latest PBR
news.Immunomedics has announced that patient dosing has begun in a Phase I/II clinical trial evaluating the safety, tolerability and early indication of efficacy of veltuzumab, its humanized anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, for the treatment of immune thrombocytopenic purpura.
Subscribe to our email newsletter
The company said that the first patient enrolled in this study responded very favorably to veltuzumab. Prior to receiving a single dose of 80mg of veltuzumab, the patient had a platelet count of less than 30 x 10(9)/L (normal range is above 150 x 10(9)/L). Two days post-therapy, the platelet count increased to 78 x 10(9)/L, and four days post-therapy, the platelet count was considered normal, at greater than 150 x 10(9)/L. Nine days post-therapy, the platelet count was greater than 250 x 10(9)/L.
In this clinical trial, patients with platelet levels greater than 150 x 10(9)/L measured on two separate occasions, at least one week apart, are classified as complete responders. The most recent platelet count remained greater than 150 x 10(9)/L, thus classifying this patient as a complete responder.
Cynthia Sullivan, president and CEO, said: “This initial result is very encouraging, but will need to be substantiated with more patients and monitoring for duration of response.”