Pharmacokinetics and safety of IBI301 versus rituximab in patients with CD20 + B-cell lymphoma: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled study

This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled trial aimed to compare the pharmacokinetics (PK) of IBI301 with rituximab in patients with CD20-positive (CD20 + ) B-cell lymphoma, who achieved a complete response/unconfirmed complete response after standard treatments. Patients were randomized (1:1) to receive IBI301 or rituximab (375 mg/m 2 , IV). Patients who continuously benefitted from the trial after the PK phase underwent the extension phase to receive up to three cycles of 3-month-cycle of rituximab/IBI301 maintenance therapy. PK was described using the area under the serum concentration–time curve from time zero to infinity (AUC 0-inf ), AUC from time zero to last quantifiable concentration (AUC 0-t ), and maximum serum concentration ( C max ). Pharmacodynamics (PD), incidence of adverse events and immunogenicity were evaluated. PK was defined equivalent, if 90% confidence intervals (CIs) for geometric mean ratios of PK endpoints fell within the margin of 0.8–1.25. Overall, 181 patients were enrolled in IBI301 ( n = 89) and rituximab ( n = 92) groups. Geometric mean ratios of AUC 0-inf , AUC 0-t , and C max were 0.91 (90% CI 0.85, 0.97), 0.91 (90% CI 0.86, 0.97), and 0.96 (90% CI 0.92, 1.01) between treatment groups, all within the bioequivalence range. Peripheral CD19 + and CD20 + B-cell counts were similar at each prespecified time point between the groups. No difference in immunogenicity was observed. The incidences of treatment-emergent adverse events (84.3% vs. 83.5%) and treatment-related AEs (56.2% vs. 61.5%) were comparable (IBI301 vs. rituximab). IBI301 was PK bioequivalent to rituximab in patients with CD20 + B-cell lymphoma. The PD, safety, and immunogenicity profiles of IBI301 were similar to those of rituximab.