Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), today announced positive results from Stage 1 of CLL11, a Phase III randomized study to investigate the efficacy and safety profile of the investigational medicine obinutuzumab (GA101) plus chlorambucil chemotherapy compared with chlorambucil alone in people with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). An improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) was achieved as GA101 plus chlorambucil significantly reduced the risk of disease worsening or death compared to chlorambucil alone.
"The improvement in progression-free survival seen with GA101 is encouraging for people with CLL, a chronic illness of older people for which new treatment options are needed," said Hal Barron, M.D., chief medical officer and head, Global Product Development. "GA101 demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the research and development of new medicines for this disease."
GA101 has been specifically designed as the first glycoengineered, type 2 anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody in development for B-cell malignancies. In pre-clinical development, GA101 has shown evidence of increased direct cell killing and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). As a result, GA101's clinical development program is designed to assess whether or not it is superior to Rituxan® (rituximab) in CLL and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).
CLL11 is a three-arm study that compares GA101 plus chlorambucil to Rituxan plus chlorambucil or chlorambucil alone. The study includes two separate stages. Stage 1 evaluated GA101 plus chlorambucil to chlormabucil alone, and included a pre-planned PFS futility analysis comparing GA101 plus chlorambucil to Rituxan plus chlorambucil. The goal of this futility analysis was to evaluate the likelihood that the study would meet its pre-specified endpoint criteria during Stage 2 analysis - improved efficacy (PFS) in the direct comparison of GA101 plus chlorambucil to Rituxan plus chlorambucil. The independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) assessment concluded that Stage 2 of the study should continue until its final analysis. No new safety events were reported for the GA101 or Rituxan containing arms in the study up to the time of this analysis.
Data from CLL11 will be submitted for presentation at an upcoming medical meeting and submitted to European regulatory authorities and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for potential approval.
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