SPC2996 in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) is the most common leukaemia in adults in the US and most of Western Europe. Many patients suffering from CLL have tumour cells expressing high amounts of Bcl-2 protein. Since over expression of Bcl-2 inhibits apoptosis, it is possible that this gene participates in the pathogenesis of CLL. By lowering the Bcl-2 protein in these tumour cells the cells may go into apoptosis due to changed balance in pro- and anti apoptotic proteins and thereby it might be possible to induce a tumour response.

The study is an open-labelled, international, multicenter, dose escalating phase I/II study where patients receive 6, 3, 2 or 1 dose(s) of SPC2996, a LNA antisense molecule against Bcl-2, over a period of up to 2 weeks, and are followed for 6 months.

Inclusion criteria

• patients with relapsed or refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia requiring therapy
• screening blood sample must show circulating lymphocyte count of more then 5 x 109/L and circulating lymphocytes expressing the phenotype CD5+CD20+CD23+.
• The PCR Bcl-2 m-RNA level must be positive
• the patients must be 18 years or older and have given informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• previous treatment with rituximab, alemtuzumab or autologous stem cell transplantation within 6 months prior to Visit 1 or allogeneic stem cell transplantation at any time
• patients that received anti-cancer therapy, glucocorticoids or radiotherapy within 4 weeks prior to Visit 1 and patients with known or suspected transformation of CLL