In a nutshell
This study looked at the safety and effectiveness of CT-P10 (Truxima) compared to rituximab (Rituxan) in the treatment of follicular lymphoma. Researchers found that CT-P10 had similar safety and effectiveness as rituximab in these patients.
Some background
Lymphoma is a cancer of the immune system. It is often treated with drugs which target the immune system. Rituximab is an example of these medications, called biological therapy. It is commonly used for the treatment of follicular lymphoma (FL). It is an original drug that involves high treatment prices.
To reduce treatment costs, an alternative is a biosimilar drug. This is a biological medicine with a very similar structure to an original, approved drug. These usually come with a 20-35% lower price. CT-P10 is a rituximab biosimilar drug. The safety and effectiveness of CT-P10 compared to rituximab remain under investigation.
Methods & findings
258 patients with FL were included in this study. 130 patients received CT-P10 and 128 received rituximab. Overall response rates were assessed.
83% of patients given CT-P10 and 81% of those treated with rituximab had a treatment response by 7 months. Side effects were reported in 71% of patients in the CT-P10 group and 67% in the rituximab group. 5% of those who received CT-P10 and 2% of patients on rituximab had serious side effects. The most common side effect was a low white cell count.
The bottom line
The study concluded that CT-P10 and rituximab are similar in safety and effectiveness in the treatment of FL.
The fine print
This study was funded by Celltrion, the manufacturer of CT-P10. CT-P10 (Truxima) was recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of previously untreated FL.
Published By :
The Lancet. Haematology
Date :
Nov 01, 2018
