BRIEF — Setback to hopes for new Arzerra indication

A Phase III trial involving Arzerra (ofatumumab), a treatment of certain chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) indications, has failed to demonstrate the drug’s potential in indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (iNHL).

A combination of Arzerra and bendamustine did not meet the primary endpoint of improved progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with iNHL who were unresponsive to rituximab or a rituximab-containing regimen, compared to those given bendamustine alone.

The Phase III trial started in 2010 and its failure has disappointed Danish biotech Genmab, which markets the drug under a collaboration with Swiss pharma giant Novartis.