True enough, this is based on a very small (only 15 patients) study — and some fairly significant side effects remain a concern. But these are people with very few other options, given the severity of the blood-borne cancers they are facing.

So, these study results mean a Phase 3 clinical trial will begin shortly — and an FDA filing after that — for the candidate called zilovertamab vedotin, brought in to Rahway by the purchase of VelosBio in November of 2020. [That was during the peak of COVID. . . a time that seems long passed.] Here’s the latest, from the cogent keyboards — at BioSpace:

…Merck on Sunday unveiled initial data from the Phase II waveLINE-007 study, demonstrating that its investigational antibody-drug conjugate zilovertamab vedotin achieved a 100% complete response rate when used as part of a treatment regimen in patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma.

The pharma presented these findings at the ongoing 66th annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH 2024), being held in San Diego.

In a note over the weekend, BMO Capital Markets analysts called data for Merck’s ADC “very competitive….”

In the study, all 15 patients treated with 1.75 mg/kg of zilovertamab vedotin, in combination with the anti-cancer regimen R-CHP—cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, prednisone and rituximab—reached complete response, as assessed using a PET scan and a CT or MRI scan….

Now you know — and again, not yet remotely material, as larger clinical trials are needed to determine the normalized rate of any severe side effects, here.

Onward, smiling… as it again does offer new hope to people suffering with cancers (previously considered mostly untreatable).

नम