The purpose of this Phase 2/3, randomized, multisite, open-label, dose confirmation, and expansion study is to evaluate the safety, and efficacy of zilovertamab vedotin (ZV) in combination with standard of care options for the treatment of rrDLBCL. This study will be divided into 2 parts: Dose Confirmation (Part 1) and Efficacy Expansion (Part 2) and will enroll participants who are at least 18 years of age with rrDLBCL. The hypotheses are: ZV in combination with rituximab, gemcitabine, and oxaliplatin (R-GemOx) is superior to R-GemOx with respect to progression-free survival (PFS) per Lugano response criteria by blinded independent review committee (BICR); and that ZV in combination with bendamustine rituximab (BR) is superior to BR with respect to PFS per Lugano response criteria by BICR. With protocol amendment 4 (effective: 04-April-2024), enrollment in Cohort B (study arms Bendamustine Rituximab \[BR\] and ZV + BR) is discontinued. No efficacy outcome analysis and hypothesis testing will be conducted for Cohort B.
Phase 2 trials begin testing efficacy in a larger patient group (100–300). This is often where biotech binary events occur — positive Phase 2 data can significantly advance a company's pipeline narrative, while failures can be terminal for a program.
Phase 3 trials are pivotal studies with large patient populations (hundreds to thousands) designed to prove efficacy and safety for FDA submission. A successful Phase 3 readout is typically the last major hurdle before a New Drug Application (NDA) or BLA filing.
Currently recruiting: the trial is enrolling patients. A data readout is not expected until after enrollment closes and the follow-up period is complete.
Merck & Co (MRK) is the sponsoring company for this trial. BiotechSign currently grades this company F (35/100) based on composite catalyst signals across its full pipeline. This trial is one data point in that overall catalyst picture.