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Ofatumumab

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Abstract

Ofatumumab is a fully human anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody that induces antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and complement-dependent cytotoxicity in CD20-expressing B lymphocytes. Ofatumumab is highly potent in lysing B cells, and this appears to stem from its binding site on the short extracellular loop of the target CD20 protein and its slow release from the target molecule.

In a pivotal, noncomparative study in patients with fludarabine- and alemtuzumab-refractory chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), ofatumumab induced objective responses in 58% (99% CI 40, 74) of patients, which met a prespecified superiority criterion. The median duration of response was 7.1 months.

The median progression-free survival was 5.7 months and the median overall survival was 13.7 months.

In patients with fludarabine- and alemtuzumab-refractory CLL, infections and neutropenia were the most frequent treatment-related adverse events (all grades) that occurred during ofatumumab treatment; infections that commenced during treatment led to death in five patients (8%).

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Acknowledgements and Disclosures

The manuscript was reviewed by: C. Pepper, Department of Haematology, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK; E. Terpos, Department of Clinical Therapeutics, University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.

The preparation of this review was not supported by any external funding. During the peer review process, the manufacturers of the agent under review were offered an opportunity to comment on this article; changes based on any comments received were made on the basis of scientific and editorial merit.

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  1. Adis, a Wolters Kluwer Business, 41 Centorian Drive, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay, North Shore, Auckland, 0754, New Zealand

    Mark Sanford & Paul L. McCormack

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  1. Mark Sanford
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  2. Paul L. McCormack
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Correspondence to Mark Sanford.

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Sanford, M., McCormack, P.L. Ofatumumab. Drugs 70, 1013–1019 (2010). https://doi.org/10.2165/11203850-000000000-00000

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