AbbVie secures PBS listing in aggressive form of blood cancer

Australians living with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) will have funded access to AbbVie’s CD3-CD20 bispecific antibody following its listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from 1 May.

DLBCL, an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, affects approximately 2,000 Australians each year. Epkinly (epcoritamab) is indicated for use in third-line treatment and enters a competitive space alongside Roche’s Columvi (glofitamab).

Professor Michael Dickinson, Lead Clinician for Aggressive Lymphoma at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Haematologist at Cabrini Hospital, said “The availability of Epkinly on the PBS for the treatment of DLBCL allows healthcare professionals to have new conversations with our patients, who may have previously been presented with limited, or no other options. We can also explore an option for patients who weren’t eligible for current third-line therapy.”

Echoing the importance of treatment choice, Sharon Winton, CEO and Director of Lymphoma Australia, said “Patients living with DLBCL deserve options at every stage of their treatment journey. The availability of another treatment option for patients who have already undergone two or more lines of therapy acknowledges this need and is welcomed by the community.”

In a phase 1/2 study, Epkinly achieved a tumour shrinkage response in 61% of patients who had undergone a median of three prior treatments, with 38% achieving complete remission. In comparison, glofitamab’s phase 1/2 trial recorded a 51.6% overall response rate and a 39.4% complete response rate. Both studies enrolled a third of patients previously treated with CAR-T therapy, adding to the real-world relevance of the findings.

However, emerging data may give Epkinly an edge. Australian haematologists recently reported a new immune-related toxicity associated with Columvi, documenting the first known cases of immune-mediated enterocolitis linked to the therapy.

Convenience in administration may also distinguish Epkinly in clinical practice. Delivered via subcutaneous injection, Epkinly offers a more convenient alternative to glofitamab’s intravenous infusion regimen.

Nathalie McNeil, Vice President and General Manager, AbbVie Australia & New Zealand, stated “AbbVie is committed to innovation and bringing alternative treatments to cancer patients as quickly as possible. We recognise that when patients face a cancer diagnosis, they need therapies and support with innovative advancements fast.

“We are proud of our commitment to expanding treatments to meet the unmet needs of cancer patients and are challenging conventional timelines to get medicines from the lab to patients faster.”

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