On June 20, 2024 InnoCare Pharma (HKEX: 09969; SSE: 688428), a leading biopharmaceutical company focusing on the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases, reported that China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has accepted and granted priority review to a biologics license application (BLA) for tafasitamab in combination with lenalidomide for adult patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who are not eligible for autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) (Press release, InnoCare Pharma, JUN 20, 2024, View Source [SID1234644466]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Dr. Jasmine Cui, Co-founder, Chairwoman and CEO of InnoCare, said, "Today’s BLA acceptance marks an important milestone for InnoCare. DLBCL is the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma globally, and there is a significant unmet need for DLBCL patients in China. We believe that tafasitamab regimen will bring a novel treatment therapy to DLBCL patients in China."

Tafasitamab, a humanized Fc-modified cytolytic CD19-targeting immunotherapy, in combination with lenalidomide has already been approved for the treatment of eligible DLBCL patients in Hong Kong. Furthermore, under the early access program in the Bo’ao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, prescriptions of tafasitamab in combination with lenalidomide were issued at the Ruijin Hainan Hospital and Guangdong Clifford Hospital for eligible DLBCL patients.

Tafasitamab is approved under accelerated approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and conditional approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), in combination with lenalidomide for the treatment of relapsed or refractory DLBCL adult patients who are not eligible for ASCT.

DLBCL is the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), and its incidence accounts for 31% to 34% of NHL globally. In China, DLBCL accounts for 45.8% of all NHLs1.

About Tafasitamab

Tafasitamab is a humanized Fc-modified cytolytic CD19 targeting monoclonal antibody. In 2010, MorphoSys licensed exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize tafasitamab from Xencor, Inc. Tafasitamab incorporates an XmAb engineered Fc domain, which mediates B-cell lysis through apoptosis and immune effector mechanism including Antibody-Dependent Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity (ADCC) and Antibody-Dependent Cellular Phagocytosis (ADCP).

MorphoSys and Incyte entered into: (a) in January 2020, a collaboration and licensing agreement to develop and commercialize tafasitamab globally; and (b) in February 2024, an agreement whereby Incyte obtained exclusive rights to develop and commercialize tafasitamab globally.

In August 2021, Incyte entered into a collaboration and license agreement with InnoCare for the development and exclusive commercialization of tafasitamab in hematology and oncology in Greater China.

In the United States, Monjuvi (tafasitamab-cxix) received accelerated approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in combination with lenalidomide for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL not otherwise specified, including DLBCL arising from low grade lymphoma, and who are not eligible for autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). In Europe, Minjuvi (tafasitamab) received conditional Marketing Authorization from the European Medicines Agency in combination with lenalidomide, followed by Minjuvi monotherapy, for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who are not eligible for autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT).

XmAb is a registered trademark of Xencor, Inc.

Monjuvi, Minjuvi, the Minjuvi and Monjuvi logos and the "triangle" design are registered trademarks of Incyte.