BLINCYTO, a drug for relapsed or refractory Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia, was found to be a great success in phase 2 trials, announced Amgen on Thursday, July 16.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is a rare type of bone and bone marrow cancer that has a tendency to progress very rapidly. BLINCYTO (blinatumomab) is a drug designed to treat relapsed or refractory Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) B-cell precursor ALL by boosting the human immune system to fight against cancer. BLINCYTO is reported to have induced complete remission or complete remission with partial hematological recovery in a considerable number of participants in phase 2 clinical trial, according to Reuters.     

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In case of complete remission, no signs of cancer would be seen after the treatment, and the patient will regain healthy blood count levels like ever before but in complete remission with partial hematological recovery though the patient has no signs of cancer the normal blood count is yet to be reached, noted Vocal Public.

Phase 2 open-label, single-arm, multicenter trial of BLINCYTO was carried out on adults suffering from relapsed or refractory Ph+ B-cell precursor ALL. The study consisted of an induction period treatment where the participants were adminstered with two cycles of blinatumomab and a consolidation period in which the suitable participants were given up to three cycles of the drug blinatumomab, reported CNN Money. The patients were then subjected to a safety follow-up visit after 30 days of drug administration. After the safety follow-up visit, the participants were monitored every three months for about 18 months or in case of death before the mentioned period.

Sean E. Harper, M.D., executive vice president of Research and Development at Amgen said, "These top-line results are encouraging and support blinatumomab as a potential treatment option for patients with relapsed or refractory Philadelphia chromosome-positive B-cell precursor ALL." He also noted that "We are hopeful that our comprehensive ALL development program for blinatumomab, the first clinical and regulatory validation of the BiTE® platform, will continue to demonstrate clinical effectiveness for patients with this serious disease."

According to Reuters, two courses of treatment with BLINCYTO, the drug approved for trial in December, cost $178,000, making it one of the most expensive cancer drugs in the market today.

TagsLeukemia, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Bone and bone marrow cancer, Cancer treatment, BLINCYTO, Amgen