By Phillip Mcleod
The Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has approved epcoritamab (Epkinly) as a treatment for adult patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma (FL) who have undergone at least two prior therapies. This approval was announced on February 20, 2025.
According to data from the phase I/II EPCORE NHL-1 and EPCORE NHL-3 trials, epcoritamab demonstrated significant responses and tolerability in patients with relapsed or refractory FL. This immunoglobulin-1-bispecific antibody targets CD3 on T-cells and CD20 on B-cells to induce cancer cell death, according to Genmab, the manufacturer of the therapy.
“The responses and tolerability demonstrated in this trial support epcoritamab’s potential as an important option for relapsed or refractory FL,” said Koji Izutsu, head of the department of hematology at the National Cancer Center Hospital in Tokyo and principal investigator of the Japanese phase 1/2 EPCORE NHL-3 trials.
