WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2025 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved epcoritamab (Epkinly®) in combination with rituximab (Rituxan®) and lenalidomide (Revlimid®) to treat adults with follicular lymphoma that has returned or worsened after at least one previous treatment.
“Although we are making great progress in treating follicular lymphoma, it remains incurable, and we need new treatments like epcoritamab in this chemotherapy-free combination to benefit more patients and keep the disease in remission as long as possible” says Lore Gruenbaum, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, Blood Cancer United.
Study results showed that the use of epcoritamab in combination with rituximab and lenalidomide reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 79% compared to rituximab and lenalidomide alone.
The cancer responded to the three-drug combination in 89% of patients in the study compared with 74% without epcoritamab. There was also a difference in how long the treatment effect lasted. Close to the two-year mark, the new treatment combination was still effective for more than half of the patients. For the older combination containing only two drugs, half of the patients had their cancer progress after less than a year (11.2 months).
“Follicular lymphoma gets more difficult to treat with each relapse, so having new treatments available earlier in the disease will help patients feel better longer,” explained Dr. Gruenbaum.
Blood Cancer United is accelerating follicular lymphoma research
Blood Cancer United, formerly The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, is a global leader in funding innovative follicular lymphoma research and is dedicated to forming partnerships to extend and accelerate research even more.
Blood Cancer United and the Institute for Follicular Lymphoma Innovation (IFLI) formed the Research Accelerator for Follicular Lymphoma (RAFL), which has committed $20 million to follicular lymphoma research.
RAFL announced two new research awards two new research awards in 2025. Three additional research additional research projects are being funded through a three-way partnership among Blood Cancer United, IFLI, and the Follicular Lymphoma Foundation. One of the first projects supported by this partnership, Research United to Cure FL, is studying how and why follicular lymphoma cells become resistant to treatment and ways to use new combination therapies to overcome it.
“Cancer is a complex, challenging condition that changes over time. At Blood Cancer United we look at ways to make our research dollars and knowledge go further. Partnering with other experts who share our dedication and vision is one great way to do that,” says Dr. Gruenbaum.
If you or a loved one need personalized disease, treatment or support information, you can contact one of our Information Specialists: https://www.lls.org/support-resources/information-specialists