A phase 2 trial finds that epcoritamab monotherapy achieved a complete response in over half of frail older adults with newly diagnosed large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) who couldn't tolerate standard chemotherapy. With a 57.6% complete response rate and 92% MRD negativity, the bispecific antibody offers a promising chemo-free, fixed-duration option for a patient population with very limited treatment choices.
Frail older adults with large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) have long faced a tough reality: standard anthracycline-based chemotherapy is often too toxic for them, and existing alternatives haven't worked well enough. A new phase 2 trial published in Lancet Haematology suggests epcoritamab — a bispecific antibody — could change that picture.
In the trial of 108 patients (median age 83), epcoritamab monotherapy delivered a complete response rate of 57.6% and an overall response rate of 66.7%. Median time to complete response was just 2.2 months, and 92% of evaluable patients achieved MRD negativity at some point during treatment — a strong indicator of deep disease control.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: This trial addresses a critical unmet need — frail elderly patients with LBCL who are ineligible for standard chemo have had few effective options. A fixed-duration, chemotherapy-free regimen that achieves durable responses in this population could meaningfully shift first-line treatment approaches.
