Biotech Strategy Blog

Commentary on Science, Innovation & New Products with a focus on Oncology, Hematology & Cancer Immunotherapy

Posts tagged ‘Antibody Drug Conjugate’

Seattle Genetics vadastuximab talirine and liver toxicities in AML

Yesterday sudden and unexpected news from Seattle Genetics caused quite a stir…

“Seattle Genetics Announces Clinical Hold on Several Phase 1 Trials of Vadastuximab Talirine (SGN-CD33A).”

Part of the Seattle Genetics exhibit booth at #ASH16, taken with permission

In short, over 300 patients have been treated with the ADC and six experienced hepatotoxicity, including several cases of veno-occlusive disease, with four fatalities.

We’ve written about AML several times recently and also received a number of reader questions on this latest development, so it’s time to explore the issue in more depth and look at the implications. We also include some expert commentary from a leukemia specialist for their take on the issue.

To learn more about our insights, Subscribers can log in below or you can sign up via the blue box.

ASCO 2014 Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma DLBCL Progress

One of the overlooked highlights from ASCO this year was new data in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), which is an aggressive form of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (NHL). DLBCL is the most common form of NHL accounting for nearly one third of newly diagnosed NHL cases each year in the USA. Most of these people are adults rather than children.

The first sign of DLBCL is often a painless rapid swelling in the neck, armpit, or groin, which is caused by enlarged lymph nodes. Other symptoms can include night sweats, unexplained fevers, and weight loss.

Aggressive lymphomas such as DLBCL behave very differently from indolent NHL (iNHL) since they are faster growing and generally have a much poorer prognosis. As a result, they are treated much more aggressively with rituximab plus chemotherapy regimens such as CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone). Sometimes etoposide (E) is added in younger patients with a high disease burden, in which case the regimen is known as R-EPOCH.

To learn more about our insights, you can sign in or sign up in the box below: