Experimental drug gives unprecedented hope for resistant Hodgkin s lymphoma treatment

Normally, we do not publicize promising clinical drug research until it reaches Phase III of testing, but a Phase II Hodgkin’s lymphoma therapy trial has shown unusual efficacy that we believe cannot be ignored. SGN-35 has been developed by Seattle Genetics. An immunology-based therapy, it uses an antibody that specifically targets malignant cancer cells. This is unlike traditional therapies which also attack healthy cells within the body. In this way, SGN-35 does not appear to cause the side-effects typical of chemotherapy, even when prescribed at comparatively high doses. The clinical trial tested SGN-35 on 102 Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients who had relapsed or did not respond to chemotherapy. The results, presented Sunday at an American Society of Hematology meeting in Florida, showed that 95 percent of the participants experienced tumor shrinkage by at least 25 percent while one-third saw their tumors disappear altogether. Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system — a part of the immune system — that causes abnormal white blood cell growth.

ACSH’s Dr. Josh Bloom says results don’t get any better than these in a such an early clinical trial. “These results are off the charts — you rarely see 95% response rate for any cancer drug. I certainly haven’t,” he says. “It’s unfortunate that this treatment is not for solid tumors, which are harder to treat, but it is so impressive — treating Hodgkin’s patients who have failed with other therapies — that it merits mentioning, even at this relatively early stage. And it seems to do this with very few side effects.”

Seattle Genetics predicts SGN-35 could be approved by U.S. regulators by the end of 2011, which would put the drug on the fast-track for approval.