Brentuximab + Chemotherapy for Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Not currently recruiting at 258 trial locations

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase 3

Sponsor: Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Disqualifiers: HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Pivotal Trial (Near Approval) This treatment is in the last trial phase before FDA approval

Prior Safety Data This treatment has passed at least one previous human trial

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 1 year

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests two different treatment combinations for advanced Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. One group receives a new treatment with brentuximab vedotin (a targeted therapy) plus three chemotherapy drugs, while the other group receives the standard chemotherapy treatment. Researchers aim to determine which option better prevents cancer from worsening. Individuals who have not received treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma and have advanced disease might be suitable for this trial. As a Phase 3 trial, this study represents the final step before FDA approval, offering participants a chance to contribute to potentially groundbreaking treatment advancements.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, if you have had prior immunosuppressive chemotherapy, therapeutic radiation, or any immunotherapy within 12 weeks of the first study drug dose, you may not be eligible to participate.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that brentuximab vedotin has been tested in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma and similar conditions. In these studies, many patients experienced improvement in their cancer. However, some side effects require attention. Common serious side effects include low white blood cell count, low red blood cell count, and low platelet count, occurring in less than a quarter of patients.

Prospective trial participants should discuss these potential side effects with a healthcare professional. While the treatment has shown promise, it carries risks, as is common with many cancer treatments. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial's treatments?

Researchers are excited about brentuximab vedotin for Hodgkin's Lymphoma because it targets the CD30 protein present on cancer cells. Unlike the traditional ABVD regimen, which includes bleomycin and has potential lung toxicity, brentuximab vedotin replaces bleomycin in the A+AVD regimen, potentially offering a safer alternative. This targeted approach not only aims to reduce side effects but also enhances the treatment's effectiveness by delivering a potent agent directly to the cancer cells.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for Hodgkin's Lymphoma?

Research has shown that brentuximab vedotin, part of the A+AVD treatment arm in this trial, yields promising results for treating advanced classical Hodgkin lymphoma. Studies indicate that after six years, 93.9% of patients treated with the A+AVD combination remain alive, compared to 89.4% with the ABVD combination, the other treatment arm in this trial. Additionally, over 80% of patients with classic Hodgkin lymphoma achieve long-term remission with effective first treatments. This evidence suggests that brentuximab vedotin could significantly improve outcomes in Hodgkin lymphoma. ^{1 3 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Study Director

Principal Investigator

Takeda

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals with advanced classical Hodgkin Lymphoma who have measurable disease, are relatively active (ECOG <=2), and haven't started treatment yet. They must be diagnosed at a late stage (III or IV) according to Ann Arbor staging and confirmed by WHO classification.

Inclusion Criteria

My diagnosis is classical Hodgkin Lymphoma according to WHO standards.

I have Stage III or IV Hodgkin's lymphoma and haven't received any treatment.

I can take care of myself but might not be able to do heavy physical work.

Exclusion Criteria

I have been diagnosed with a type of lymphoma called nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma.

I do not have brain or spinal cord disease, including PML.

I have nerve damage affecting my senses or movement.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive either A+AVD or ABVD regimen for frontline treatment of advanced classical Hodgkin lymphoma

1 year

Regular visits as per treatment protocol

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 years

Open-label extension (optional)

Participants may opt into continuation of treatment long-term

Long-term

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Bleomycin
• Brentuximab Vedotin
• Dacarbazine
• Doxorubicin
• Vinblastine

Trial Overview The study compares two treatments: A+AVD (brentuximab vedotin plus doxorubicin, vinblastine, dacarbazine) against ABVD (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine). It's designed to see which combination better prevents the cancer from progressing without getting worse.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: A + AVD Experimental Treatment 4 Interventions

A+AVD consists of brentuximab vedotin (ADCETRIS®) 1.2 milligram per kilogram (mg/kg) plus doxorubicin 25 milligram per square meter (mg/m\^2), vinblastine 6 mg/m\^2, and dacarbazine (DTIC) 375 mg/m\^2.

Group II: ABVD Active Control 4 Interventions

ABVD consists of doxorubicin 25 mg/m\^2, bleomycin 10 units per square meter (units/m\^2), vinblastine 6 mg/m\^2, and dacarbazine (DTIC) 375 mg/m\^2.

Bleomycin is already approved in European Union, United States, Canada for the following indications:

Approved in European Union as Bleomycin for:

• Hodgkin's lymphoma
• Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
• Testicular cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Malignant pleural effusions

Approved in United States as Bleomycin for:

• Hodgkin's lymphoma
• Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
• Testicular cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Malignant pleural effusions

Approved in Canada as Bleomycin for:

• Hodgkin's lymphoma
• Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
• Testicular cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Malignant pleural effusions

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Lead Sponsor

Trials

406

Recruited

46,900+

Dr. Christophe Bianchi

Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Chief Medical Officer since 2006

MD from University of Geneva

Dr. Deborah Dunsire

Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Chief Executive Officer since 2005

MD from University of Witwatersrand

Takeda

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,255

Recruited

4,219,000+

Dr. Naoyoshi Hirota

Takeda

Chief Medical Officer since 2020

MD from University of Tokyo

Christophe Weber

Takeda

Chief Executive Officer since 2015

PhD in Molecular Biology from Université de Montpellier

Seagen Inc.

Industry Sponsor

Trials

212

Recruited

73,800+

Founded

1997

Headquarters

Bothell, USA

Known For

Antibody-Drug Conjugates

Top Products

Adcetris (brentuximab vedotin), Tukysa (tucatinib), Padcev (enfortumab vedotin-ejfv), Tivdak (tisotumab vedotin-tftv)

Dr. Roger Dansey

Seagen Inc.

Chief Medical Officer since 2018

MD from University of Witwatersrand

David R. Epstein

Seagen Inc.

Chief Executive Officer since 2022

BSc in Pharmacy from Rutgers University, MBA from Columbia University

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a phase II trial involving 170 patients with early-stage unfavorable Hodgkin lymphoma, the combination of brentuximab vedotin plus doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (BV-AVD) resulted in a higher PET-negative response rate (82.3%) after two cycles compared to the standard ABVD treatment (75.4%).

The 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate was also higher in the BV-AVD group (97.3%) compared to the ABVD group (92.6%), indicating that BV-AVD may offer a more effective treatment option for these patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Brentuximab Vedotin Plus AVD for First-Line Treatment of Early-Stage Unfavorable Hodgkin Lymphoma (BREACH): A Multicenter, Open-Label, Randomized, Phase II Trial. Fornecker, LM., Lazarovici, J., Aurer, I., et al.[2023]

Brentuximab vedotin (BV) combined with doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (AVD+BV) improves clinical outcomes in adults with stage III or IV Hodgkin lymphoma, providing an increase of 0.56 quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) compared to standard ABVD therapy.

However, the use of BV significantly raises lifetime healthcare costs, resulting in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $317,254 per QALY, indicating that it is unlikely to be cost-effective at current pricing without substantial price reductions for BV.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Brentuximab Vedotin With Chemotherapy in Newly Diagnosed Stage III and IV Hodgkin Lymphoma. Huntington, SF., von Keudell, G., Davidoff, AJ., et al.[2019]

Brentuximab vedotin is an effective treatment for relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma, showing high response rates and durable outcomes in both clinical trials and real-world settings.

In the phase 3 AETHERA trial, brentuximab vedotin significantly prolonged progression-free survival compared to placebo after autologous stem cell transplant, reducing the risk of disease progression or death by 43% over a median follow-up of 30 months.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Brentuximab Vedotin: A Review in CD30-Positive Hodgkin Lymphoma. Scott, LJ.[2020]

In a phase 2 study of 34 patients with nonbulky stage I/II Hodgkin lymphoma, the combination of brentuximab vedotin and AVD (doxorubicin, vinblastine, dacarbazine) achieved a remarkable 100% complete response rate, with high progression-free survival (94%) and overall survival (97%) at a median follow-up of 38 months.

Despite the high efficacy, the treatment was associated with significant adverse effects, including high rates of peripheral sensory neuropathy (79%) and neutropenia (76%), leading to dose reductions in 38% of patients, suggesting that this regimen may not be suitable for early-stage patients with a favorable prognosis.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Brentuximab vedotin, doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine for nonbulky limited-stage classical Hodgkin lymphoma. Abramson, JS., Arnason, JE., LaCasce, AS., et al.[2021]

A systematic review of 62 randomized controlled trials found that the five-year overall survival rates for ABVD and BEACOPP regimens in advanced-stage Hodgkin lymphoma were 60-97% and 84-99%, respectively, indicating high efficacy for both treatments.

The new treatment A+AVD showed improved efficacy compared to ABVD while maintaining an acceptable tolerability profile, suggesting it may be a more manageable option for patients with advanced-stage Hodgkin lymphoma.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy and safety of front-line treatments for advanced Hodgkin lymphoma: a systematic literature review. Dalal, M., Gupta, J., Price, K., et al.[2021]

In the phase III ECHELON-1 study involving 1,334 patients, older patients (aged ≥60) with classical Hodgkin lymphoma showed similar modified progression-free survival rates at 24 months when treated with brentuximab vedotin plus AVD (70.3%) compared to ABVD (71.4%).

While A+AVD demonstrated comparable efficacy to ABVD, it was associated with higher rates of grade 3/4 peripheral neuropathy (18% vs. 3%) and febrile neutropenia (37% vs. 17%), but lower rates of pulmonary toxicity, with no pulmonary-related deaths in the A+AVD group.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Older patients (aged ≥60 years) with previously untreated advanced-stage classical Hodgkin lymphoma: a detailed analysis from the phase III ECHELON-1 study. Evens, AM., Connors, JM., Younes, A., et al.[2022]

Brentuximab vedotin demonstrated a high overall objective response rate of 75% in 102 patients with relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma and 86% in 58 patients with relapsed systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma, indicating its efficacy as a targeted treatment.

The treatment was generally well tolerated, with peripheral neuropathy being the most common side effect; however, about half of the patients who experienced this side effect saw complete resolution.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Brentuximab vedotin: a review of its use in patients with hodgkin lymphoma and systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma following previous treatment failure. Garnock-Jones, KP.[2021]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5034737/

Five-year survival and durability results of brentuximab ... A total of 38% of patients who achieved CR (13 of 34) on brentuximab vedotin have remained in remission for >5 years and may be cured. Nine of the 13 patients ( ...

2. nejm.org nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2206125

Overall Survival with Brentuximab Vedotin in Stage III or IV ... The 6-year overall survival estimates were 93.9% (95% CI, 91.6 to 95.5) in the A+AVD group and 89.4% (95% CI, 86.6 to 91.7) in the ABVD group.

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3627331/

Safety and efficacy of brentuximab vedotin in patients with ... In phase II studies, brentuximab vedotin induced overall response rates of 75% and 86% in relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and anaplastic large cell ...

4. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41409-025-02557-7

Real-world outcomes of brentuximab vedotin as ... - Nature Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) has a high cure rate, with more than 80% of patients with classic HL achieving long-term remission following first-line ...

5. adcetris.com adcetris.com/classical-hodgkin-lymphoma/about-adcetris/

How may I benefit from ADCETRIS? ADCETRIS was an effective treatment for classical Hodgkin lymphoma that has a high risk of coming back or getting worse after a stem cell transplant · ADCETRIS ...

6. adcetrispro.com adcetrispro.com/classical-hodgkin-lymphoma-post-auto-hsct-consolidation/efficacy

ADCETRIS® (brentuximab vedotin) Efficacy Data - Safety Info Five-year PFS from the AETHERA trial of brentuximab vedotin for Hodgkin lymphoma at high risk of progression or relapse. Blood. 2018;132:2639-2642. 4 ...

7. link.springer.com link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12288-025-02093-w

A Multi-Center Retrospective Study on Survival and Safety Results. Among the patients (56.1% female, median age 33.5 years), the overall treatment response rate was 76.8%. The median OS was 13.6 ...

8. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3731651/

Safety and efficacy of brentuximab vedotin for Hodgkin ... The most common adverse events ≥ grade 3 were neutropenia (24%), anemia (20%), thrombocytopenia (16%), and hyperglycemia (12%). Cytomegalovirus was detected in ...