Epizyme, Genentech to Evaluate Drug Combo in NHL

Epizyme has entered into a collaboration agreement with Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, to conduct a clinical trial investigating the anti-cancer effects of Epizyme’s EZH2 inhibitor, tazemetostat, and Genentech’s recently approved anti-PD-L1 cancer immunotherapy, Tecentriq (atezolizumab). The study will evaluate this combination regimen for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the most common form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Genentech will manage clinical study operations for the Phase Ib trial, which is expected to begin enrolling patients in 2H16.

“A key part of Epizyme’s long-term vision is expanding the benefit that tazemetostat can bring to patients, and includes combining tazemetostat with checkpoint inhibitors,” said Robert Bazemore, president and chief executive officer, Epizyme. “We believe this study will be enhanced by our partner’s deep expertise in the field of immuno-oncology. This collaboration aligns us with a global leader in oncology and hematology, and advances Epizyme’s leadership position in the development of epigenetic therapeutics.”

“The goal of this collaboration is to generate clinical proof-of-concept for the combination, building on tazemetostat’s activity as a monotherapy in a Phase 1 study of NHL and preclinical observations that EZH2 inhibition may have a priming effect on the immune system and improve the activity of checkpoint inhibitors,” said Peter Ho, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer, Epizyme. “We look forward to evaluating this combination in patients with DLBCL, and to exploring the potential to expand the therapeutic opportunities for tazemetostat, as well as Tecentriq.”