Dr. Flinn on FDA Approval of Frontline Brentuximab Vedotin With AVD in Hodgkin Lymphoma

Ian W. Flinn, MD, PhD, director of Lymphoma Research, principal investigator, Sarah Cannon Research Institute, discusses the FDA approval of brentuximab vedotin combined with Adriamycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (AVD) as a frontline treatment for patients with advanced classical Hodgkin lymphoma.

The decision is based on data from the phase III ECHELON-1 trial, in which brentuximab vedotin plus AVD compared with standard ABVD, which is defined as AVD plus bleomycin, demonstrated superior progression-free survival. In the trial, the brentuximab vedotin regimen was associated with a 23% reduction in the risk of progression, death, or initiation of new therapy versus ABVD.

The FDA granted a breakthrough therapy designation for brentuximab vedotin in combination with chemotherapy for frontline advanced classical Hodgkin lymphoma in October 2017.