Dr. Woyach on Preliminary Efficacy Results of MOR208 Trial in CLL

Jennifer Woyach, MD, associate professor, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses the preliminary efficacy results of the MOR208 trial in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

The CD19-directed antibody MOR208 is being explored in combination with lenalidomide (Revlimid) or ibrutinib (Imbruvica). This phase II trial includes patients with relapsed/refractory CLL, treatment-naïve disease, Richter’s transformation, and patients with CLL who have been treated with ibrutinib.

Although efficacy results are only preliminary, they look promising, says Woyach. The combination is appearing safe thus far, with a subgroup of patients with an ibrutinib-resistance mutation showing either stable clonal size or a rapid decrease in frequency of mutations.

As the study continues to enroll, Woyach hopes that it could be used as a proof of concept for lenalidomide as well as a jumping-off point for a definitive study in the future.