BioCentury
ARTICLE | Clinical News

Molecular Templates' NHL candidate shows higher response rates with low baseline Rituxan levels

June 15, 2018 6:19 PM UTC

Molecular Templates Inc. (NASDAQ:MTEM) reported Phase I data from 10 evaluable relapsed or refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients with low serum Rituxan rituximab levels at baseline showing that MT-3724 led to an objective response rate (ORR) of 30% and a disease control rate (DCR) of 70%. The data were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago.

The company said patients with high circulating levels of Rituxan at baseline showed "poor response" to MT-3724 due to competitive inhibition and blocking of CD20 receptor by Rituxan, a chimeric mAb against CD20 antigen. Based on the data, Molecular Templates said it will only enroll patients with low baseline levels of Rituxan in the Phase Ib extension and future studies of the engineered toxin body (ETB) against CD20...