• Phase 1b DLBCL-001 study reinforces promising activity and combinability of golcadomide with R-CHOP in patients with previously untreated aggressive B-cell lymphoma
• Phase 1/2 CC-99282-NHL-001 study demonstrates activity and combinability with rituximab in heavily pretreated patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

PRINCETON, N.J. / Dec 11, 2023 / Business Wire / Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) announced the results of two early studies evaluating combinations of potential first-in-class CELMoD™ agent golcadomide in non-Hodgkin lymphomas. These data are being presented in separate posters (#4459, #4496, #1631) at the 2023 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting from December 9-12.

“Golcadomide is a novel, oral CELMoD agent representing one of several compelling assets generated from our differentiated targeted protein degradation research platform,” said Michael Pourdehnad, M.D., senior vice president, Head of Early Clinical Development, Hematology, Oncology and Cell Therapy Development, Bristol Myers Squibb. “In the studies being presented at ASH 2023, golcadomide has shown potential warranting further evaluation in patients with first-line and previously treated large B-cell lymphomas. We are encouraged by the growing body of evidence for this purposefully designed lymphoma agent as we continue toward a registrational program.”

CC-220-DLBCL-001

In the dose expansion phase of this Phase 1b study, patients were randomized 1:1 to golcadomide at one of two recommended Phase 2 dose levels (DL) (DL-1: 0.2 mg day 1-7, n=35; DL1: 0.4 mg day 1-7, n=37) plus R-CHOP-21 for a fixed duration of 6 cycles. A total of 65 (83.3%) patients completed 6 cycles of the combination with 13 discontinuing treatment.

There were 71 patients evaluable for efficacy, and results showed:

• Overall response rate (ORR) at end of treatment rate was 84.5% in patients overall, with 87.9% of patients in the DL1 arm achieving a complete metabolic response (CMR) compared to 63.6% in the DL-1 arm.
• Minimal residual disease negativity at the end of treatment was achieved in 93% (14/15) of patients treated with 0.4 mg of golcadomide plus R-CHOP compared to 70% (7/10) treated with 0.2 mg of golcadomide plus R-CHOP.
• At both DL1 and DL-1, steady-state levels of golcadomide reduced Ikaros over 80%, to levels predicted to optimize tumor cell killing and to stimulate T and NK cells.

In the safety population (n=78), the majority of patients (98.7%) experienced at least one treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE). Grade 3/4 TEAEs were primarily hematologic with neutropenia (89.7%), thrombocytopenia (42.3%) and anemia (32.1%) being the most common. Any grade febrile neutropenia was reported in 21.8% of patients. Median relative dose intensity of key R-CHOP components was maintained at >90%.

CC-99282-NHL-001

A separate poster detailed the efficacy and safety results from the dose expansion segment of a Phase 1/2 open-label study of two doses of golcadomide (0.2 mg, 0.4 mg) plus rituximab in relapsed/refractory patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Patients were heavily pre-treated with a median number of 4 prior therapies (range 1-11), including 61% who had prior CAR T.

In patients evaluable for efficacy (n=26), the ORR was 42% (11/26) with 19% (5/26) achieving a complete response (CR). The median duration of response was 7.5 months (1.8-14.5). The ORR and CR rate was greater for patients in the 0.4 mg arm compared to the 0.2 arm (55% vs. 33% and 27% vs. 13%, respectively).

In the study, neutropenia was the most common TEAE of any grade, occurring in 50% of patients (22/44). Febrile neutropenia was observed in 2 patients, with 1 patient at each dose level. A total of 6 patients had serious adverse events with only pneumonia and pyrexia occurring in more than 1 patient (2 each). There were 4 deaths on treatment during the study with one considered related to the study treatment.

About Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a cancer that starts in white blood cells called lymphocytes, which are part of the body’s immune system.¹ Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a rapidly growing, aggressive disease and the most common form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), accounting for one out of every three cases diagnosed.² More than two-thirds of patients with DLBCL will not respond to or will relapse following second-line treatment. For patients who relapse or do not respond to initial therapies, conventional treatment options that provide durable remission are limited and median life expectancy is about six months, leaving a critical need for new therapies.^3,4

Bristol Myers Squibb: Creating a Better Future for People with Cancer

Bristol Myers Squibb is inspired by a single vision — transforming patients’ lives through science. The goal of the company’s cancer research is to deliver medicines that offer each patient a better, healthier life and to make cure a possibility. Building on a legacy across a broad range of cancers that have changed survival expectations for many, Bristol Myers Squibb researchers are exploring new frontiers in personalized medicine and, through innovative digital platforms, are turning data into insights that sharpen their focus. Deep understanding of causal human biology, cutting-edge capabilities and differentiated research platforms uniquely position the company to approach cancer from every angle.

Cancer can have a relentless grasp on many parts of a patient’s life, and Bristol Myers Squibb is committed to taking actions to address all aspects of care, from diagnosis to survivorship. As a leader in cancer care, Bristol Myers Squibb is working to empower all people with cancer to have a better future.

About Bristol Myers Squibb

Bristol Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information about Bristol Myers Squibb, visit us at BMS.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding, among other things, the research, development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products. All statements that are not statements of historical facts are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about our future financial results, goals, plans and objectives and involve inherent risks, assumptions and uncertainties, including internal or external factors that could delay, divert or change any of them in the next several years, that are difficult to predict, may be beyond our control and could cause our future financial results, goals, plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the statements. These risks, assumptions, uncertainties and other factors include, among others, that future study results may not be consistent with the results to date, that the product candidates described in this release may not receive regulatory approval for the indications described in this release, that any marketing approvals, if granted, may have significant limitations on their use, and, if approved, whether such product candidates for such indications will be commercially successful. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the many risks and uncertainties that affect Bristol Myers Squibb’s business and market, particularly those identified in the cautionary statement and risk factors discussion in Bristol Myers Squibb’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as updated by our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made only as of the date of this document and except as otherwise required by applicable law, Bristol Myers Squibb undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.

References

1. American Cancer Society. What is non-Hodgkin lymphoma? Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/about/what-is-non-hodgkin-lymphoma.html. Accessed November 2023.
2. American Cancer Society. Types of B cell lymphoma. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/about/b-cell-lymphoma.html. Accessed March 2022.
3. Crump M, Neelapu SS, Farooq U et al. Outcomes in refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: results from the international SCHOLAR-1 study. Blood. 2017; 130(16): 1800-1808.
4. Raut LS, Chakrabarti PP. Management of relapsed-refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma. South Asian J Can. 2014; 3(1): 66-70.