BIOGEN IDEC REPORTS ZEVALIN DATA

Biogen Idec has announced that new study data demonstrate that patients may benefit from earlier and consolidated use of Zevalin (ibritumomab tiuxetan) radioimmunotherapy in refractory and hard-to-treat cancers, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), mantle cell lymphoma, and follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The Phase II study is exploring the feasibility and effectiveness of first line use of Zevalin and standard rituximab plus CHOP (R-CHOP) chemotherapy in older patients with high risk DLBCL, a disease that represents approximately one-third of all lymphomas and primarily impacts people over 60 years of age.

Patients received R-CHOP chemotherapy at standard doses for induction therapy. After hematologic recovery and R-CHOP restaging, patients were eligible for Zevalin, which was given six to nine weeks post R-CHOP.