The combination of milatuzumab, a humanized anti‐CD74 antibody, and veltuzumab, a humanized anti‐CD20 antibody, demonstrates activity in patients with relapsed and refractory B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma

Summary As a result of the anti‐tumour activity observed in vitro and in vivo with combined anti‐CD20 and anti‐CD74 antibodies, we initiated a phase I/II trial of veltuzumab and milatuzumab in patients with relapsed or refractory B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Patients received an induction of veltuzumab 200 mg/m2 weekly combined with escalating doses of milatuzumab at 8, 16 and 20 mg/kg weekly for 4 weeks. Patients without disease progression could receive an extended induction with treatment on weeks 12, 20, 28 and 36. A total of 35 patients enrolled on the study. Median age was 63 years, median number of prior therapies was 3, and 63% of patients were rituximab refractory. No dose‐limiting toxicities were observed in the phase I study. Related grade 3–4 toxicities included lymphopenia, leucopenia, neutropenia, anaemia, infusion reactions, hyperglycaemia, fatigue and atrial tachycardia. Median weeks of therapy was 12 and 29% of patients completed all 36 weeks of therapy. The overall response rate was 24%, median duration of response was 12 months, and responses were observed at all dose levels and in 50% of patients refractory to rituximab. Combination therapy with veltuzumab and milatuzumab demonstrated activity in a population of heavily pre‐treated patients with relapsed or refractory indolent NHL.