Genmab Announces Submission of Japan New Drug Application (JNDA) for Epcoritamab (DuoBody®-CD3xCD20) for the Treatment of Relapsed/Refractory Large B-Cell Lymphoma (LBCL)
Media Release
COPENHAGEN, Denmark; December 21, 2022
- JNDA submission supported by results of Japanese and global phase 2 clinical trials evaluating epcoritamab in patients with mature B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), including relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL)
(Nasdaq: GMAB) today announced that the company has submitted a Japan new drug application (JNDA) to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) of Japan for subcutaneous epcoritamab (DuoBody®-CD3xCD20), an investigational bispecific antibody, for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) after two or more lines of systemic therapy.
The JNDA submission is supported by the EPCORE™ NHL-3, open-label, multi-center, phase 2 trial (GCT3013-04) evaluating the safety and preliminary efficacy of epcoritamab in adult patients in Japan with relapsed, progressive or refractory CD20+ mature B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL), as well as results from the global EPCORE™ NHL-1 open-label, multi-center, phase 2 trial (GCT3013-01) evaluating epcoritamab in the same patient population.
“With this regulatory submission, we are one step closer to potentially delivering epcoritamab as a new therapeutic option to patients in Japan with relapsed and refractory LBCL who are in need of alternative treatments,” said Jan van de Winkel, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Genmab. “Genmab and our partner AbbVie believe that epcoritamab has the potential to become a core therapy for patients around the world with B-cell malignancies and we are committed to progressing the comprehensive development program evaluating epcoritamab across a broad range of B-cell lymphomas.”
Epcoritamab is being co-developed by Genmab and AbbVie as part of the companies' oncology collaboration. The companies will share commercial responsibilities in the U.S. and Japan, with AbbVie responsible for further global commercialization. The companies are committed to evaluating epcoritamab as a monotherapy, and in combination, across lines of therapy in a range of hematologic malignancies, including an ongoing phase 3, open-label, randomized clinical trial evaluating epcoritamab as a monotherapy in patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) (EPCORE™ DLBCL-1, NCT04628494) and a phase 3, open-label clinical trial evaluating epcoritamab in combination in patients with relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma (FL) (EPCORE™ FL-1, NCT05409066).
Genmab recently that the Biologics License Application (BLA) for epcoritamab for the treatment or R/R LBCL was accepted for Priority Review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), with an FDA action date of May 21, 2023. Additionally, the European Medicines Agency the Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for epcoritamab for the treatment of adult patients with R/R DLBCL after two or more lines of systemic therapy.
About Large B-cell Lymphoma (LBCL)
Large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) is a fast-growing type of B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (B-NHL), a cancer that develops in the lymphatic system and affects B-cell lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. There are an estimated 150,000 new LBCL cases each year globally.1,2
About the EPCORE NHL-3 Trial (GCT3013-04)
EPCORE NHL-3 (GCT3013-04) is an open-label, multi-center safety and preliminary efficacy trial of epcoritamab including a phase 1 first-in-human, dose escalation part; and a phase 2 expansion part. The trial was designed to evaluate subcutaneous epcoritamab in Japanese patients with relapsed, progressive or refractory mature B-NHL, including DLBCL. In the phase 2 expansion part, additional patients are treated with epcoritamab to further explore the safety and efficacy of epcoritamab in patients with relapsed/refractory DLBCL and F who had limited therapeutic options.
About the EPCORE NHL-1 Trial (GCT3013-01)
EPCORE NHL-1 (GCT3013-01) is an open-label, multi-center safety and preliminary efficacy trial of epcoritamab including a phase 1 first-in-human, dose escalation part; a phase 2 expansion part; and an optimization part. The trial was designed to evaluate subcutaneous epcoritamab in patients with relapsed, progressive or refractory CD20+ mature B-NHL, including LBCL and DLBCL. Data from the dose escalation part of the study, which determined the recommended phase 2 dose, were published in in 2021. In the phase 2 expansion part, additional patients are treated with epcoritamab to further explore the safety and efficacy of epcoritamab in patients with different types of relapsed/refractory B-NHLs who had limited therapeutic options.
The primary endpoint of the phase 2 expansion part was overall response rate (ORR) as assessed by an independent review committee (IRC). Secondary efficacy endpoints included duration of response, complete response rate, progression-free survival, overall survival, time to response, time to next therapy, and rate of minimal residual disease negativity.
About Epcoritamab
Epcoritamab is an investigational IgG1-bispecific antibody created using Genmab's proprietary DuoBody technology. Genmab's DuoBody-CD3 technology is designed to direct cytotoxic T cells selectively to elicit an immune response towards target cell types. Epcoritamab is designed to simultaneously bind to CD3 on T cells and CD20 on B-cells and induces T cell mediated killing of CD20+ cells.3 CD20 is expressed on B-cells and a clinically validated therapeutic target in many B-cell malignancies, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.4,5
About Genmab
Genmab is an international biotechnology company with a core purpose to improve the lives of people with cancer. For more than 20 years, Genmab’s vision to transform cancer treatment has driven its passionate, innovative and collaborative teams to invent next-generation antibody technology platforms and leverage translational research and data sciences, fueling multiple differentiated cancer treatments that make an impact on people’s lives. To develop and deliver novel therapies to patients, Genmab has formed 20+ strategic partnerships with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. Genmab’s proprietary pipeline includes bispecific T-cell engagers, next-generation immune checkpoint modulators, effector function enhanced antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates.
Genmab is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark with locations in Utrecht, the Netherlands, Princeton, New Jersey, U.S. and Tokyo, Japan. For more information, please visit and follow us on .
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1 Sehn, Salles. "Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma." N Engl J Med. 2021;384:842-858. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMra2027612
2 Martelli, Ferreri, Agostinelli, et al. "Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma." Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2013;87(2):146-71. DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2012.12.009
3 Engelberts et al. "DuoBody-CD3xCD20 induces potent T-cell-mediated killing of malignant B cells in preclinical models and provides opportunities for subcutaneous dosing." EBioMedicine. 2020;52:102625. DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.102625
4 Rafiq, Butchar, Cheney, et al. "Comparative Assessment of Clinically Utilized CD20-Directed Antibodies in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Cells Reveals Divergent NK Cell, Monocyte, and Macrophage Properties." J. Immunol. 2013;190(6):2702-2711. DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1202588
5 Singh, Gupta, Almasan. "Development of Novel Anti-Cd20 Monoclonal Antibodies and Modulation in Cd20 Levels on Cell Surface: Looking to Improve Immunotherapy Response." J Cancer Sci Ther. 2015;7(11):347-358. DOI: 10.4172/1948-5956.1000373
Media Release no. 20
CVR no. 2102 3884
LEI Code 529900MTJPDPE4MHJ122
Genmab A/S
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