The interim analysis demonstrated that treatment with ofatumumab (Arzerra) met the primary endpoint of improving progression free survival (PFS). The study evaluated ofatumumab maintenance therapy versus no further treatment (observation) in patients with relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) who responded to treatment at relapse.
The IDMC did not identify any new safety signals and will continue to monitor patients for safety until all study patients complete therapy. Further analysis of the safety and efficacy data is underway and will be shared with regulators and the scientific community in the coming months.
"This interim result from the PROLONG study demonstrated that maintenance therapy with ofatumumab lowered the risk of disease progression in patients who responded to treatment at relapse. We look forward to sharing the results of the interim analysis with regulatory agencies to evaluate the potential for future regulatory filings," said Dr. Rafael Amado, Head of Oncology R&D, GSK.
"We are very pleased that this study of ofatumumab, the first phase III study to evaluate maintenance therapy for relapsed CLL, met the primary endpoint at the interim analysis. This result indicates the potential of ofatumumab in this setting where there are currently no approved treatments. We look forward to presenting the detailed data from this study at a future medical conference," said Jan van de Winkel, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Genmab.
This pivotal phase III study was designed to randomise up to 532 patients with relapsed CLL who have responded to treatment at relapse, to either ofatumumab maintenance treatment or no further treatment (observation).
Patients in the ofatumumab arm receive an initial dose of 300 mg of ofatumumab, followed one week later by a second dose of 1,000 mg, then doses of 1,000 mg every 8 weeks for up to two years, while patients in the observation treatment arm receive no further treatment.
The primary endpoint of the study is PFS. Secondary objectives will evaluate clinical benefit, safety, tolerability, the health-related quality of life of subjects treated with ofatumumab versus no further treatment, and pharmacokinetics among relapsed CLL patients receiving maintenance therapy with ofatumumab.