Photo by Bill Branson
Vials of drug
MADRID—The biosimilar GP2013 has demonstrated equivalence to its reference drug rituximab in patients with previously untreated, advanced-stage follicular lymphoma (FL), according to researchers.
Treatment with GP2013 plus cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone (CVP) produced a similar overall response rate (ORR) as rituximab plus CVP in the phase 3 ASSIST-FL trial.
Survival rates were also similar between the treatment arms, as were adverse events (AEs).
Results from this study were published in The Lancet Haematology and presented at ESMO 2017 Congress (abstract 994O).
The study was funded by Hexal AG, a Sandoz company (part of the Novartis group), which is marketing GP2013 as Rixathon in Europe.
Patients and treatment
The trial included 629 patients with previously untreated, advanced-stage FL. They were randomized to receive 8 cycles of GP2013-CVP (n=314) or rituximab-CVP (n=315). Responders in either arm could receive monotherapy maintenance for up to 2 years.
The mean age was 57.5 in the GP2013 arm and 56.4 in the rituximab arm. Fifty-eight percent and 54% of patients, respectively, were female.
Fifty-seven percent of patients in the GP2013 arm and 56% in the rituximab arm had an ECOG performance status of 0. Forty percent and 39%, respectively, had a status of 1. Two percent and 4%, respectively, had a status of 2. (For the remaining 1% of patients in each arm, data on performance status were missing.)
Patients had an Ann Arbor stage of III—46% in the GP2013 arm and 43% in the GP2013 arm—or IV—54% in the GP2013 arm and 57% in the rituximab arm.
Fifty-six percent of patients in each arm were high-risk according to FLIPI. Thirty-four percent in the GP2013 arm and 33% in the rituximab arm were intermediate-risk. Ten percent and 11%, respectively, were low-risk.
Fourteen percent of patients in the GP2013 arm and 18% in the rituximab arm had bulky disease. Fifteen percent and 13%, respectively, had splenic involvement.
ORR and survival
The patients had a median follow-up of 23.8 months. The primary efficacy endpoint was equivalence in ORR, defined by a 95% confidence interval (CI) with a margin of ± 12% standard deviation.
The primary endpoint was met, as the ORR was 87% in the GP2013 arm and 88% in the rituximab arm, with a difference of –0.40% (95% CI –5.94%, 5.14%).
The complete response rate was 15% in the GP2013 arm and 13% in the rituximab arm. The partial response rates were 72% and 74%, respectively.
The median progression-free survival and overall survival have not been reached. However, the progression-free survival rate was 70% in the GP2013 arm and 76% in the rituximab arm (hazard ratio [HR]=1.31; 95% CI 1.02, 1.69).
The overall survival rate was 93% in the GP2013 arm and 91% in the rituximab arm (HR=0.77; 95% CI 0.49, 1.22).
Safety
During the combination phase, the incidence of AEs was 93% in the GP2013 arm and 91% in the rituximab arm. The incidence of serious AEs was 23% and 20%, respectively.
The most frequent AEs (in the GP2013 and rituximab arms, respectively) were neutropenia (26% and 30%), constipation (22% and 20%), and nausea (16% and 13%). The most common grade 3/4 AE was neutropenia (18% and 21%).
There were 11 deaths reported during the combination phase—4 in the GP2013 arm and 7 in the rituximab arm.
Three deaths in the GP2013 arm (sudden death, septic shock, and respiratory failure) and 2 deaths in the rituximab arm (multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and sepsis) were suspected to be related to study treatment.
During the maintenance phase, the incidence of AEs was 63% in the GP2013 arm and 57% in the rituximab arm. The incidence of serious AEs was 6% and 4%, respectively.
The most frequent AEs (in the GP2013 and rituximab arms, respectively) were infections and infestations (20% and 27%), neutropenia (10% and 6%), cough (9% and 6%), and upper respiratory tract infection (3% and 6%). The most common grade 3/4 AE was neutropenia (7% and 4%).
There were 4 deaths reported during the maintenance phase, 2 in each treatment arm.
