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Genzyme leukemia drug superior to chemotherapy

Genzyme and Schering have reported results from an end-stage trial that suggest the drug Campath is superior to the chemotherapy chlorambucil in patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

The study met its primary endpoint by demonstrating superior progression free survival in patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) treated with Campath versus chlorambucil. Campath reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 42%.

The secondary endpoint analyses showed that patients who received Campath given for a median of nearly twelve weeks exhibited significantly higher overall and complete response rates, with a manageable safety profile, compared with those patients who were treated with chlorambucil for a median of twenty-four weeks. The data showed a nearly 30% greater overall response rate among patients treated with Campath compared to chlorambucil.

“The high response rates, longer progression-free survival, and extended treatment-free intervals in these patients, in addition to other clinical data, support that Campath is one of the most active single agents in CLL and confirm its place as a key component of any future studies in combination or consolidation therapy.” stated lead investigator Peter Hillmen of the Leeds General Infirmary, UK.