Merck's Antibody Drug Conjugate Shows Promising Results In Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma

Merck, known as MSD outside the U.S. and Canada, shared groundbreaking findings from its Phase 2 waveLINE-007 trial. The trial is investigating zilovertamab vedotin, an experimental antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting ROR1. This trial evaluates the drug in combination with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, prednisone, and rituximab (R-CHP) for newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

Dr Muhit Ozcan, the study’s principal investigator, Ankara University School of Medicine, said in a statement, “There is a need for additional first-line treatment options to help patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma since, unfortunately, approximately 40% still experience relapsed or refractory disease after initial treatment with the current standard of care. These data from the Phase 2 waveLINE-007 trial are promising and support further research in the first-line setting in a larger patient population to help address this significant unmet need for patients.”

At a pre-specified analysis, the combination therapy achieved a remarkable 100% complete response (CR) rate among patients receiving zilovertamab vedotin at 1.75 mg/kg. This dose has now been established as the recommended Phase 3 dose for further studies. These findings were published in an oral presentation at the 66th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting.

Dr. Gregory Lubiniecki, vice president of oncology clinical research at Merck Research Laboratories, also commented, “We are pleased to see these early positive results from the Phase 2 waveLINE-007 trial, in which zilovertamab vedotin demonstrated a highly promising response rate and a manageable safety profile in combination with standard of care. We look forward to advancing our research of this investigational ROR1-directed antibody-drug conjugate, which we believe has strong potential in multiple hematologic malignancies.”

In addition to this milestone, Merck is presenting data from over 20 studies highlighting its diverse haematology pipeline, which features innovative approaches to treating a wide range of blood cancers, during the ASH event.