CD19 targeted monoclonal enters trials

[Guest guest]

XmAb5574 (MOR208) is a potent monoclonal anti-CD19 antibody to which MorphoSys

recently gained worldwide access via an exclusive license and collaboration

agreement with Xencor.

The trial is designed to assess the drug's safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetic

profile and preliminary anti-tumor activity in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

(CLL) patients.

In preclinical studies, XmAb5574 (MOR208) was well tolerated at various dose

levels, elicited immediate and sustained B-cell depletion, and showed strong

anti-tumor potency, anti-proliferative and apoptotic activity. B-cell

malignancies, such as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)

and acute lymphoblastic leukemia afflict more than one hundred and fifty

thousand patients in the seven major markets each year.

CD19 is expressed more broadly and earlier in B-cell development than CD20, the

target of the marketed cancer drug Rituxan, therefore potentially allowing for

an even broader use of XmAb5574 (MOR208) as compared to Rituxan

Phase I Clinical Trial : NCT01161511

~chris

CLL CANADA