Thrombocytopenic Purpura

New thrombocytopenic purpura study findings have been reported by scientists at Brown University

Thrombocytopenic Purpura Library Library Home This article was published in Pain & Central Nervous System Week, which you can subscribe to online.

"Veltuzumab contains 90 to 95% human antibody sequences with identical antigen framework regions to epratuzumab (a humanized anti-CD22 mAb) and similar antigen-binding determinants to rituximab (chimeric, anti-CD20 mAb and the first-line treatment of aggressive and indolent NHL). In vitro studies have demonstrated that veltuzumab has enhanced binding avidities and a stronger effect on complement-dependent cytotoxicity compared with rituximab in selected cell lines. In dose-finding phase I/II clinical trials in patients with low-grade NHL, intravenous veltuzumab demonstrated a substantial rate of complete responses in concurrence with shorter and more tolerable infusions compared with rituximab. Currently there has been no evidence of an immune response to repeated administrations, and no serious adverse events related to veltuzumab treatment in patients with NHL. Veltuzumab is undergoing clinical trials using a low-dose subcutaneous formulation in patients with NHL, CLL and ITP," wrote C. Milani and colleagues, Brown University.

The researchers concluded: "Prospective, randomized clinical trials are needed to clarify the role veltuzumab will play in a market where the therapy of B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders is dominated by rituximab.."

Milani and colleagues published their study in Current Opinion in Molecular Therapeutics (Veltuzumab, an anti-CD20 mAb for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia and immune thrombocytopenic purpura. Current Opinion in Molecular Therapeutics, 2009;11(2):200-207).

For additional information, contact J. Castillo, Brown University, Warren Alpert Medical School, Miriam Hospital, Division Hematology & Oncology, 164 Summit Avenue, Fain Bldg, Providence, RI 02906, USA.

The publisher of the journal Current Opinion in Molecular Therapeutics can be contacted at: Thomson Reuters (Scientific) Ltd., 77 Hatton Garden, London, EC1N 8JS, England.

Keywords: United States, Providence, Arthritis, Biotechnology, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Hematology, Immunotherapy, Medical Device, Molecular Research, Molecular Therapies, Monoclonal Antibodies, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Oncology, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Therapy, Thrombocytopenic Purpura, Treatment, Brown University.

This article was prepared by Pain & Central Nervous System Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Pain & Central Nervous System Week via NewsRx.com.