On September 3, 2025 AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) reported updated results from the Phase 2 EPCORE NHL-6 trial (NCT05451810) evaluating the feasibility of dosing and monitoring patients in the outpatient setting for the first full dose of epcoritamab monotherapy, a T-cell engaging bispecific antibody administered subcutaneously, in adult patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who have received at least one prior line of systemic therapy (Press release, AbbVie, SEP 3, 2025, View Source [SID1234655739]). Results from the study demonstrated that the incidence and severity of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) following treatment with epcoritamab were consistent with previous epcoritamab studies in R/R DLBCL. These results were shared today during a poster presentation (Abstract #ABCL-1224) at the 13th Society of Hematologic Oncology (SOHO) Annual Meeting.
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In the study, 88 patients received the first full dose (48 mg) of epcoritamab monotherapy. Of these, 81 patients (92%) were monitored in the outpatient setting and seven (8%) in the inpatient setting. Overall, CRS events occurred in 37 (40.2%) of patients during the entire trial period (n=92), were primarily low grade (Grade 1-2), all resolved with a median time of two days, and no events led to treatment discontinuation. ICANS occurred in seven patients (7.6%), were primarily low grade (Grade 1-2), all resolved with a median time of three days, and no events led to treatment discontinuation.
"The EPCORE NHL-6 trial results are notable, as current bispecific antibody treatments for relapsed and refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients may require in-hospital monitoring for cytokine release syndrome after certain initial doses and as needed after subsequent doses," said Jeff Sharman, M.D., disease chair, hematology research, Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) at Willamette Valley Cancer Institute in Eugene, Oregon. "The possibility of treating patients in the outpatient setting is encouraging, and it may enable more people to have access to this treatment option across various sites of care, including community settings."
The study also showed an overall response rate (ORR) of 64.3% and a complete response (CR) rate of 47.6%, at a median follow-up of 5.8 months, in patients (n=42) treated with epcoritamab after only one prior line of systemic therapy. In patients treated with epcoritamab following two or more lines of systemic therapy (n=50), with a median follow-up of 10.8 months, the study showed an ORR of 60.0% and a CR rate of 38.0%. Currently, epcoritamab is approved for R/R DLBCL after two or more prior lines of systemic therapy and is being investigated for use in earlier lines of therapy. See approved indication and important safety information below.
"The updated EPCORE NHL-6 trial findings presented at the Society of Hematologic Oncology Annual Meeting suggest that treatment of relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with epcoritamab can be safe in the outpatient setting. This potential shift to outpatient care could help improve access to treatment," said Svetlana Kobina, M.D., Ph.D, vice president, oncology medical affairs, AbbVie. "AbbVie remains committed to building on our leadership in blood cancer, which includes advancing research with our partner Genmab, that firmly establishes the impact of investigational epcoritamab in successive lines of treatment across B-cell malignancies."
DLBCL is the most common type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) worldwide, accounting for approximately 25-30% of all NHL cases.1,2 In the U.S., there are approximately 25,000 new cases of DLBCL diagnosed each year.3 DLBCL can arise in lymph nodes as well as in organs outside of the lymphatic system, occurs more commonly in the elderly and is slightly more prevalent in men.4,5 DLBCL is a fast-growing type of NHL, a cancer that develops in the lymphatic system and affects B-cell lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. For many people living with DLBCL, their cancer either relapses, which means it may return after treatment, or becomes refractory, meaning it does not respond to treatment. Although new therapies have become available, management can still be challenging.4,6
The use of epcoritamab in an outpatient setting for the first full dose in R/R DLBCL and as monotherapy in DLBCL in the second-line setting has not been approved by the U.S. FDA or any other Health Authority.
About the EPCORE NHL-6 Trial
EPCORE NHL-6 is a Phase 2 open-label clinical trial evaluating the safety of outpatient administration of subcutaneous epcoritamab as monotherapy in adult patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (R/R DLBCL). The primary objective of the trial was to assess adverse events within three months of treatment initiation with epcoritamab monotherapy. The primary outcome measures were the percentage of participants experiencing Grade 3 or higher cytokine release syndrome (CRS) events, immune cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) events, and/or neurotoxicity (Ntox) events. Secondary outcomes included responses to treatment as determined by Lugano 2014 criteria and assessed by investigators.
EPCORE NHL-6 enrolled 92 patients with R/R DLBCL who had received at least one prior line of systemic therapy, including at least one anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody-containing therapy. At the time of data cutoff (January 15, 2025), 92 patients had received ≥1 dose of epcoritamab (community: n=41; academic: n=51). Median follow-up was 7.6 months (range, 6.0-9.2) and 50% remained on treatment. Median age was 69 years, 83% had Ann Arbor stage III-IV, 24% had prior CAR T, 24% had bulky disease ≥7cm, and 51% had International Prognostic Index (IPI) ≥3. More information can be found at View Source (NCT05451810).
About Epcoritamab
Epcoritamab is an IgG1-bispecific antibody created using Genmab’s proprietary DuoBody technology and administered subcutaneously. Genmab’s DuoBody-CD3 technology is designed to direct cytotoxic T cells selectively to elicit an immune response toward target cell types. Epcoritamab is designed to simultaneously bind to CD3 on T cells and CD20 on B cells and induces T-cell-mediated killing of CD20+ cells.7 Epcoritamab is being co-developed by Genmab and AbbVie as part of the companies’ oncology collaboration. The companies share commercial responsibilities in the U.S. and Japan, with AbbVie responsible for further global commercialization. Both companies will pursue additional international regulatory approvals for the investigational R/R FL indication and additional approvals for the R/R DLBCL indication.
Genmab and AbbVie continue to evaluate the use of epcoritamab as a monotherapy, and in combination, across lines of therapy in a range of hematologic malignancies. This includes five ongoing Phase 3, open-label, randomized trials including a trial evaluating epcoritamab as a monotherapy in patients with R/R DLBCL compared to investigators choice chemotherapy (NCT04628494), a trial evaluating epcoritamab in combination with R-CHOP in adult patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL (NCT05578976), a trial evaluating epcoritamab in combination with rituximab and lenalidomide (R2) in patients with R/R FL (NCT05409066), a trial evaluating epcoritamab in combination with rituximab and lenalidomide (R2) compared to chemoimmunotherapy in patients with previously untreated FL (NCT06191744), and a trial evaluating epcoritamab in combination with lenalidomide compared to chemotherapy infusion in patients with R/R DLBCL (NCT06508658). The safety and efficacy of epcoritamab have not been established for these investigational uses.
EPKINLY (epcoritamab-bysp) U.S. INDICATIONS & IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
What is EPKINLY?
EPKINLY is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with certain types of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), high-grade B-cell lymphoma, or follicular lymphoma (FL) that has come back or that did not respond to previous treatment after receiving 2 or more treatments. EPKINLY is approved based on patient response data. Studies are ongoing to confirm the clinical benefit of EPKINLY. It is not known if EPKINLY is safe and effective in children.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Important Warnings—EPKINLY can cause serious side effects, including:
Cytokine release syndrome (CRS), which is common during treatment with EPKINLY and can be serious or life-threatening. To help reduce your risk of CRS, you will receive EPKINLY on a step-up dosing schedule (when you receive 2 or 3 smaller step-up doses of EPKINLY before your first full dose during your first cycle of treatment), and you may also receive other medicines before and for 3 days after receiving EPKINLY. If your dose of EPKINLY is delayed for any reason, you may need to repeat the step-up dosing schedule.
Neurologic problems that can be serious, and can be life-threatening and lead to death. Neurologic problems may happen days or weeks after you receive EPKINLY.
People with DLBCL or high-grade B-cell lymphoma should be hospitalized for 24 hours after receiving their first full dose of EPKINLY on day 15 of cycle 1 due to the risk of CRS and neurologic problems.
Tell your healthcare provider or get medical help right away if you develop a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher; dizziness or lightheadedness; trouble breathing; chills; fast heartbeat; feeling anxious; headache; confusion; shaking (tremors); problems with balance and movement, such as trouble walking; trouble speaking or writing; confusion and disorientation; drowsiness, tiredness or lack of energy; muscle weakness; seizures; or memory loss. These may be symptoms of CRS or neurologic problems. If you have any symptoms that impair consciousness, do not drive or use heavy machinery or do other dangerous activities until your symptoms go away.
EPKINLY can cause other serious side effects including:
Infections that may lead to death. Your healthcare provider will check you for signs and symptoms of infection before and during treatment and treat you as needed if you develop an infection. You should receive medicines from your healthcare provider before you start treatment to help prevent infection. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any symptoms of infection during treatment, including fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, cough, chest pain, tiredness, shortness of breath, painful rash, sore throat, pain during urination, or feeling weak or generally unwell.
Low blood cell counts, which can be serious or severe. Your healthcare provider will check your blood cell counts during treatment. EPKINLY may cause low blood cell counts, including low white blood cells (neutropenia), which can increase your risk for infection; low red blood cells (anemia), which can cause tiredness and shortness of breath; and low platelets (thrombocytopenia), which can cause bruising or bleeding problems.
Your healthcare provider will monitor you for symptoms of CRS, neurologic problems, infections, and low blood cell counts during treatment with EPKINLY. Your healthcare provider may temporarily stop or completely stop treatment with EPKINLY if you develop certain side effects.
Before you receive EPKINLY, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you have an infection, are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. If you receive EPKINLY while pregnant, it may harm your unborn baby. If you are a female who can become pregnant, your healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with EPKINLY and you should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment and for 4 months after your last dose of EPKINLY. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant or think that you may be pregnant during treatment with EPKINLY. Do not breastfeed during treatment with EPKINLY and for 4 months after your last dose of EPKINLY.
In DLBCL or high-grade B-cell lymphoma, the most common side effects of EPKINLY include CRS, tiredness, muscle and bone pain, injection site reactions, fever, stomach-area (abdominal) pain, nausea, and diarrhea. The most common severe abnormal laboratory test results include decreased white blood cells, decreased red blood cells, and decreased platelets.
In follicular lymphoma the most common side effects of EPKINLY include injection site reactions, CRS, COVID-19, tiredness, upper respiratory tract infections, muscle and bone pain, rash, diarrhea, fever, cough, and headache. The most common severe abnormal laboratory test results include decreased white blood cells and decreased red blood cells.
These are not all of the possible side effects of EPKINLY. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report side effects to the FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch or to Genmab US, Inc. at 1-855-4GENMAB (1-855-443-6622).