Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) announced today that its investigational antibody drug conjugate, zilovertamab vedotin, showed promising results in treating relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) when combined with standard therapies rituximab and gemcitabine-oxaliplatin (R-GemOx).
In the Phase 2 portion of the waveLINE-003 study, the 1.75 mg/kg dose achieved a 56.3% objective response rate among 16 patients, including eight complete responses and one partial response. These findings, presented at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting, offer hope for patients with limited treatment options and support further research in a larger population.
A healthcare professional wearing a lab coat, holding a vial of medication.
The study evaluated safety and efficacy across three dosing levels, with the 1.75 mg/kg dose selected as the recommended Phase 2 dose based on both activity and manageable safety. Most adverse events were consistent with known chemotherapy side effects, and the regimen’s safety profile was considered manageable. Merck & Co., Inc. is advancing zilovertamab vedotin in additional Phase 2 and 3 trials, including studies in previously untreated DLBCL. The company’s broad oncology pipeline, spanning more than 25 cancer types, is also being highlighted at ASCO this year.
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