Dr Gandhi on Efficacy Data for Epcoritamab Across Racial Subgroups in R/R DLBCL

“The safety and efficacy of epcoritamab was relatively stable across different ethnic and racially diverse [patient] populations.”

Mitul Gandhi, MD, director of the Hematology Trials Program and co-director of the Virginia Cancer Specialists Research Institute, discussed safety and efficacy data for epcoritamab (Epkinly) monotherapy in patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) from the phase 2 EPCORE NHL-6 trial (NCT05451810).

Gandhi began with a conversation about the data from the trial and how epcoritamab performed across both racial/ethnic subgroups. Data from the trial, which were presented at the 2025 ASH Annual Meeting, evaluated epcoritamab in Black or Hispanic patients (n = 26), as well as in White or Asian patients (n = 66) with relapsed/refractory DLBCL. In the Black/Hispanic subgroup, patients achieved an overall response rate (ORR) of 61.5% and a complete response (CR) rate of 54%. Similarly, patients in the White/Asian subgroup achieved an ORR of 62.1% and a CR rate of 38%. Across all patients in the trial (n = 92), an ORR of 62% was achieved, in addition to a CR rate of 20%.

Regarding safety, rates of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) were also similar across patient subgroups. Among all patients, when receiving their first full 48-mg dose of epcoritamab on day 15 of cycle 1 (n = 88), 17 patients experienced grade 1 CRS, 12 patient had grade 2 CRS, and 1 patient had grade 3 or higher CRS. In the Black/Hispanic subgroup (n = 24), 4 patients experienced grade 1 CRS, 6 patients experienced grade 2 CRS, and no patients experienced grade 3 or higher CRS. Finally, in the White/Asian subgroup (n = 64), 13, 6, and 1 patient experienced grades 1, 2, and 3 or higher CRS, respectively.

Gandhi noted how the rates, duration, and timing of CRS, in addition to the response data, were similar across all patients in the trial. These similarities ultimately indicate that the safety and efficacy of epcoritamab is stable across racial and ethnic populations of patients with relapsed/refractory DLBCL, he added.