Core Insights - Genmab A/S announced FDA approval for EPKINLY (epcoritamab-bysp) in combination with rituximab and lenalidomide for adult patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma, based on the Phase 3 EPCORE FL-1 study results [2][7][9] Group 1: Study Results - EPKINLY + R reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 79% compared to standard treatment R, with a hazard ratio of 0.21 [3] - The median progression-free survival (PFS) was not reached for EPKINLY + R, while it was 11.2 months for R [3] - Among patients treated with EPKINLY + R, 89% responded to treatment and 74% achieved a complete response, compared to 74% overall response rate and 43% complete response rate for R [3] Group 2: Safety Profile - The safety profile of EPKINLY + R was consistent with known safety profiles of the individual components, with common adverse reactions including rash, upper respiratory infections, and fatigue [4] - Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) occurred in 24% of patients, primarily low grade, with a single event of immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) reported [4][21] Group 3: Industry Impact - The approval of EPKINLY + R represents a significant advancement for patients with follicular lymphoma, providing a chemotherapy-free treatment option that can be administered in outpatient settings [5][6] - Follicular lymphoma is a slow-growing form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma affecting approximately 15,000 new patients annually in the U.S., with current therapies considered incurable [5][26] Group 4: Future Prospects - EPKINLY + R is the first bispecific-based therapy approved by the FDA for follicular lymphoma in the second-line setting, marking the third indication for EPKINLY [7] - Genmab and AbbVie are continuing to evaluate epcoritamab in various hematologic malignancies, with multiple ongoing Phase 3 trials [29][28]