Hematologic Oncology

Brentuximab vedotin showed a 5-year overall survival rate of 41% for patients with relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma, suggesting a cure for some patients.

Adding the anti-CD20 agent obinutuzumab (Gazyva) to CHOP chemotherapy in the frontline setting did not improve progression-free survival compared with the standard regimen of rituximab (Rituxan) plus CHOP in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

After less than a week, the FDA has lifted a clinical hold placed on the phase II ROCKET study that is exploring the CAR T-cell therapy JCAR015 for adult patients with relapsed or refractory B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The FDA has placed a clinical hold on a phase II study exploring the CD19-targeted CAR-T cell therapy JCAR015 for adult patients with relapsed or refractory B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The European Commission has approved brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) for use as a consolidation therapy following autologous stem cell transplantation in patients with CD30-positive Hodgkin lymphoma at risk of relapse or progression.

The FDA has granted a breakthrough therapy designation to ibrutinib has a potential treatment for patients with chronic graft-versus-host-disease after failure of one or more lines of systemic therapy.