Dr. Koreth on Key Objectives of the EQUATOR Trial in aGVHD

John Koreth, MBBS, DPhil, director, Translational Research, Stem Cell Transplantation, senior physician, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, discusses the key objectives of the phase 3 EQUATOR trial (NCT05263999) in acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD).

EQUATOR will randomize patients to receive the current standard of care, corticosteroids, in combination with itolizumab or placebo as a first-line therapy, Koreth explains. High-risk patients with stage 3/4 aGVHD, which ranks among the most severe types of GVHD, are the focus of EQUATOR, Koreth says. Additionally, patients with milder aGVHD who still have lower intestinal tract involvement will be included in the study, since this population is also considered high-risk, Koreth adds.

The goal of the trial is to achieve early disease response, and the primary end point will be the rate of complete response at day 29, Koreth continues. Patients who are within 3 days of starting treatment with corticosteroids will be eligible for the study, Koreth concludes.