How does Besponsa treat relapsed ALL?

What is Besponsa and how does it work?
Besponsa is a targeted cancer therapy that specifically attacks leukemia cells by disrupting the function of the BCR-ABL protein. This protein is a result of a chromosomal abnormality causing chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) or acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Besponsa uses an antibody to bind to and selectively destroy cancer cells that have a specific marker, CD19, which is present on B cells [1].

How is Besponsa administered to patients with relapsed ALL?
Treatment with Besponsa involves a series of infusions given every two weeks for a maximum of 12 months or until disease progression or relapse, whichever comes first [1]. Patients undergo rigorous laboratory tests before starting treatment to confirm CD19 expression and BCR-ABL fusion. Blood counts are closely monitored, and patients are advised about the potential side effects, including the risk of secondary cancers [2][3].

What clinical trials and evidence support Besponsa for relapsed ALL?
Several phase 2 trials have demonstrated that Besponsa, in combination with salvage chemotherapy, has shown an overall response rate (ORR) of up to 67% and a complete remission (CR) rate of up to 24% in adult patients with relapsed/refractory ALL [4][5].

How does Besponsa compare with other treatments for relapsed ALL?
While Besponsa has demonstrated promise in treating relapsed ALL, it is essential to weigh its benefits against potential risks and compare it with other standard therapies, such as inotuzumab ozogamicin, blinatumomab, and axicabtagene ciloleucel [5][6].

Sources:

[1] https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/patents/Drugs/Besponsa/
[2] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31055521/
[3] https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03339128
[4] https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02480752
[5] https://www.nature.com/articles/cddis2018176
[6] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006271813001430