New analyses from the phase 3 EPCORE FL-1 trial showed that adding epcoritamab (Epkinly) to lenalidomide and rituximab provides significantly better outcomes than lenalidomide and rituximab alone for patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma.
Earlier results showed the triplet reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 79%, with an overall response rate of 95% and a complete response rate of 83%. The latest analysis found these benefits were consistent across all major patient subgroups, including older patients, those with multiple prior treatments, bulky disease, high-risk disease scores, and patients whose cancer progressed early after first-line therapy.
The treatment remained effective even when lenalidomide doses had to be reduced because of side effects. While serious side effects, particularly neutropenia, were more common with the triplet regimen, the safety profile was considered manageable, and fatal adverse events were uncommon and similar between treatment groups.
These findings support the epcoritamab, lenalidomide, and rituximab combination as a promising new standard treatment option for patients with previously treated follicular lymphoma, regardless of age or disease risk factors.