Tafasitamab for the treatment of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

ABSTRACT

Patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) require additional treatments, especially those not eligible or not responding to high dose cytotoxic chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation. Over the last few years, several new treatments have been developed and approved for these patients, among them of particular relevance are those targeting CD19. Tafasitamab is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting CD19, composed of a modified fragment crystallizable (Fc) region engineered with higher affinity for Fc gamma receptors (FcγR) receptors, leading to increased cytotoxicity through natural killer cells and macrophages (antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent cell-mediated phagocytosis). In this product review, we will discuss its mechanism of action, safety profile and efficacy results from clinical trials that led to its approval in combination with lenalidomide for patients with R/R DLBCL ineligible for high-dose chemotherapy and autologous transplantation.

KEYWORDS:

• DLBCL
• relapsed-refractory disease; monoclonal antibodies
• Anti CD-19 agent
• Tafasitamab

Disclosure statement

MCP: travel grant from BeiGene, Institutional funding for clinical trial Incyte; AS: Institutional funding for clinical trials: Abbvie; ADC Therapeutics; Amgen, Astra Zeneca; Bayer; Cellestia; Incyte, Loxo Oncology; Merck MSD; Novartis; Pfizer; Philogen; Roche; Consultant/expert testimony/advisory board: Debiopharm, Janssen, AstraZeneca, Incyte, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Roche, Loxo Oncology. Travel grant: Incyte; Astra Zeneca; EZ: honoraria from AstraZeneca, BeiGene, Celgene, Incyte, Janssen, Merck, Roche AbbVie, Miltenyi Biomedicine, Celltrion HealthCare, Kite, A Gilead Company.

Author contributions

MCP, AS, EZ wrote and revised the manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.