Celgene Presents Data on Revlimid and Rituxan in Follicular Lymphoma

Celgene International presented data this weekend at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting in Chicago regarding a randomized study comparing Revlimid (lenalidomide) plus rituximab against lenalidomide monotherapy in previously treated patients with recurrent follicular lymphoma

45 patients were given either single-agent lenalidomide (15 mg in cycle 1 and 20 mg in cycles 2-12 administered on days 1-21 of each 28-day cycle) and 44 patients were given lenalidomide (15 mg in cycle 1 and 20 mg in cycles 2-12 administered on days 1-21 of each 28-day cycle) plus rituximab (375 mg/m2 weekly for four weeks in cycle 1).

Of the 89 evaluable patients, investigators noted an objective response rate of 73% in patients getting combination therapy (with 36% seeing complete response), compared to 51% for patients receiving the single-agent lenalidomide (with13% seeing a complete response).

With a median follow-up of 1.7 years (range 0.1 -- 4.1 years), the median event-free survival (EFS) for patients in the combination arm was 2 years. Patients in the single agent arm achieved a median EFS of 1.2 years.

While the data looks good, readers should keep in mind the small number of patients, as well as the fact that Revlimid not FDA-approved for the treatment of follicular lymphoma.

Source: MarketWatch