Amgen and Allergan have announced positive top-line results from a comparative clinical study evaluating the efficacy and safety of ABP 798, a biosimilar candidate to Rituxan® (rituximab), compared to Rituxan in patients with CD20-positive B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The primary endpoint, an assessment of overall response rate (ORR) by week 28, was within the prespecified margin for ABP 798 compared to Rituxan, showing clinical equivalence. Safety and immunogenicity of ABP 798 were comparable to Rituxan.
This is the second of two studies intended to support regulatory submissions for ABP 798. The first study was conducted in patients with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and met the primary endpoint of pharmacokinetic similarity. This RA study demonstrated clinical equivalence within the prespecified efficacy margin, and a similar safety and immunogenicity profile.
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"Today's results with ABP 798 demonstrate another positive development from Amgen's robust pipeline of biosimilar medicines and we look forward to working with regulatory agencies to bring this treatment to patients," said David M. Reese, M.D., executive vice president of Research and Development at Amgen. "We continue to leverage our deep expertise and heritage in biologics across innovative and biosimilar medicines as part of our commitment to providing a range of treatment options for patients with the most serious diseases, including cancer."
ABP 798 is being developed as a biosimilar candidate to Rituxan, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody that is approved in many regions for the treatment of adult patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis, pemphigus vulgaris, granulomatosis with polyangiitis and microscopic polyangiitis.
Amgen has a total of 10 biosimilars in its portfolio, including three that are approved in the United States (US).