A phase Ib, open label, dose escalation trial of the anti-CD37 monoclonal antibody, BI 836826, in combination with ibrutinib in patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia

BI 836826 is a chimeric immunoglobulin G1 antibody targeting CD37, a transmembrane protein expressed on normal and malignant B cells. This open-label, phase Ib, dose-escalation study was conducted to determine the recommended phase II dose (RP2D) of BI 836826 + ibrutinib in patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Eligible patients received 420 mg/day of ibrutinib with escalating doses of BI 836826. BI 836826 was administered in 4-week cycles. After Cycle 12, patients achieving complete response (CR), CR with incomplete marrow recovery, or minimal residual disease-negative partial response could continue to receive BI 836826 + ibrutinib every 4 weeks for ≤ 12 additional cycles. Patients received either 100 mg (n = 3) or 200 mg (n = 3) BI 836826 + ibrutinib. In the 100 mg BI 836826 cohort, one patient received two cycles and two patients received 22 cycles of BI 836826. In the 200 mg BI 836826 cohort, patients received 12, 16 and 20 cycles of BI 836826, respectively. All patients discontinued BI 836826 and continued ibrutinib outside the trial. No dose-limiting toxicities were reported in the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) evaluation period. As the trial was discontinued before the MTD was reached, the RP2D was not determined. Grade 3/4 adverse events (AEs) were predominantly hematological. Pseudomonal bacteremia was the only drug-related AE of special interest. BI 836826 + ibrutinib did not exceed the MTD at doses up to 200 mg in patients with CLL. However, RP2D and MTD were not formally established, as the sponsor discontinued the trial.