ADC Therapeutics dosed first patients clinically testing its drug in relapsed or refractory B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

ADC Therapeutics has dosed the first patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), in a Phase I/II clinical trial for anti-tumor activity of ADCT-602.

Preclinical studies have shown that ADCT-602, an ADC that incorporates a pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) drug linker and targets CD22, which is a clinically validated ADC target, has meaningful anti-tumor activity in a number of animal models, ADC Therapeutics has said.

Hagop Kantarjian, Professor and Chair of the Department of Leukemia, at MD Anderson said pointed out that there is unmet need for new treatment options for adult patients with B-cell ALL who have not responded to initial treatment or whose cancer has returned after treatment. Kantarjian and Nitin Jain, Associate Professor in the Department of Leukemia, are leading the Phase I/II clinical trial of ADCT-602 in an open-label trial that will enroll up to 65 patients.

Jay Feingold, Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President at ADC Therapeutics, expects the response rates seen in ADCT-402 and ADCT-301 lymphoma clinical trials can be replicated in the ALL patient population with ADCT-602, and that the company’s portfolio of hematology-focused ADCs can make a positive impact on patients.