GSK, Genmab begin late-stage clinical trial for cancer drug

NEW YORK British drug maker GlaxoSmithKline and biotech company Genmab have started a late-stage trial of a biotech drug for treating cancer, the two companies said.

GSK and Genmab announced Wednesday that they had started a phase-3 trial of the drug ofatumumab in patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma with the aim of extending survival without progression of the disease in patients did not respond to therapy with Rituxan (rituximab), a drug made by Genentech and Biogen Idec. The 338 patients in the trial have indolent B-cell NHL, which accounts for more than one-third of lymphoma cases.

Patients will randomly receive a combination of ofatumumab and Cephalon’s Treanda (bendamustine hydrochloride), or Treanda alone. Patients receiving Treanda alone will have the opportunity to receive ofatumumab if their disease progresses.

As part of an agreement between the two companies, Genmab will receive a milestone payment of $20 million.