Obinutuzumab Approved for Patients with Previously Untreated CLL

Last week the FDA announced approval for obinutuzumab (Gazyva) in combination with chlorambucil for the treatment of patients with previously untreated CLL. Obinutuzumab is the first designated “Breakthrough Therapy” to be granted FDA approval, receiving a priority review through its demonstration of “significant improvement” in safety or effectiveness over available therapies.

Obinutuzumab is a 3rd generation type II anti-CD20 antibody. Acting as an immunomodulator, obinutuzumab selectively binds to the extracellular domain of the human CD20 antigen on malignant human B cells.

This “significant improvement” was demonstrated in a phase III study. Patients treated with a combination of obinutuzumab and chlorambucil experienced significant improvement in progression free survival, increasing to an average of 23 months, compared to 11 months for chlorambucil therapy.

The FDA press release can be seen here. Further information regarding CLL clinical trials at Weill Cornell Medical College can be found here.

Author: lymphomaprogram

Located on the Upper East Side of New York City, the Lymphoma Program at Weill Cornell Medical College/NewYork Presbyterian Hospital is internationally recognized for our efforts to enable patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Hodgkin disease and related disorders to have the best possible clinical outcome, including cure when possible. View all posts by lymphomaprogram