Campath Superior to Chlorambucil in leukemia

Leukemia :: Campath Superior to Chlorambucil in leukemia

Genzyme Corporation (Nasdaq: GENZ) and Berlex Inc., a U.S. affiliate of Schering AG, Germany (FSE: SCH), majority-owned by the Bayer Group, today announced results from CAM307, an international Phase III clinical trial comparing Campath(R) (alemtuzumab) with chlorambucil in previously untreated patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL).

The study data were presented at the 48th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) in Orlando.

The study met its primary endpoint by demonstrating superior progression free survival in patients treated with Campath versus chlorambucil, with Campath reducing the risk of disease progression or death by 42 percent (p=0.0001).

"Results from this study demonstrate that with up to twelve weeks of Campath therapy, these patients achieved a median period of two years before requiring additional treatment," stated lead investigator Peter Hillmen, MB, ChB, of the Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, United Kingdom. "The high response rates, longer progression-free survival, and extended treatment-free intervals in these patients, in addition to other clinical data, support that Campath is one of the most active single agents in CLL and confirm its place as a key component of any future studies in combination or consolidation therapy."