Drug news

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia treatment to be removed

Read time: 1 mins

Last updated:23rd Jan 2018

Published:23rd Jan 2018

Source: Pharmawand

Genmab has announced that it is planning to remove the Novartis drug Arzerra (ofatumumab) for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL), from all markets outside the US and establish compassionate use programs so that patients currently using the drug can continue treatment.

The challenge faced by Genmab is that there are a number of other drugs available to treat CLL yet there are relatively few patients. Arzerra is in competition with blockbuster Imbruvica, from AbbVie + J&J, while facing new competition from treatments such as Calquence.

Comment: Arzerra was one of a portfolio of drugs sold by GSK to Novartis in 2014. Meanwhile Imbruvica (ibrutinib) from Janssen Biotech in the RESONATE study of relapsed CLL patients demonstrated superiority over Arzerra and provided 88% PFS at 6 months and a 50% reduction in deaths at 9 months.

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