Editor’s Note: Amidst the gentle breeze of early summer, the annual “Nanjing Lymphoma Forum” was grandly held in the historic city of Nanjing. This offline event gathered renowned experts in the field of lymphoma from both domestic and international spheres. Through lectures, case discussions, and other formats, the forum facilitated exchanges on the latest achievements and developments in basic and clinical lymphoma research. “Oncology frontier- Hematology frontier” had the privilege of interviewing Professor Jun Zhu, one of the conference chairs and a prominent figure from Peking University Cancer Hospital. He shared the latest research on new drugs such as antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), bispecific antibodies, and Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors, emphasizing the crucial role of clinical trials in lymphoma treatment.
Oncology frontier- Hematology frontier :In recent years, significant progress has been made in the field of lymphoma treatment, with clinical trials playing a pivotal role. Could you briefly introduce the current progress and trends in lymphoma clinical trials?
Professor Jun Zhu: Over the past 20 years, China’s lymphoma clinical trials have seen rapid development. In the last decade, many new drugs have been approved and launched based on clinical trials. Both domestically developed new drugs and international ones have significantly enriched the anti-lymphoma drug landscape, making it more diverse, faster, and better. Our department (Lymphoma Department of Peking University Cancer Hospital) has participated in most of the lymphoma-related clinical trials conducted in China. In the past 10-20 years, we, alongside our colleagues nationwide, have contributed to the approval of 10-20 new anti-lymphoma drugs in China. Thus, following standardized treatment principles, the increasing number of new drugs from clinical trials has brought new choices and hope to lymphoma patients in our country.
Oncology Frontier – Hematology Frontier : In the realm of immunotherapy, ADCs and bispecific antibodies are two highly anticipated new treatment methods. Could you discuss the latest research findings on ADC drugs and bispecific antibodies?
Professor Jun Zhu: In the field of lymphoma, an increasing number of ADC drugs and bispecific antibodies are entering clinical trials, with some already approved for market. For instance, a few months ago, the CD79b ADC drug Pola (Polatuzumab vedotin) was approved. Another CD19 ADC drug is expected to be approved this year, as all necessary clinical trial registrations in China have been completed and the data is currently awaiting approval from the National Medical Products Administration. Additionally, several domestically developed ADC drugs are undergoing various clinical trials in lymphoma, which gives us confidence in the future of ADC drug applications in this field.
Similarly, bispecific antibodies are following the same trend. Geftidotumab, a bispecific antibody approved in China, and epocoritamab, another bispecific antibody, are also expected to be approved soon. Additionally, China has independently developed bi-specific, tri-specific, and even quad-specific antibodies, with our department leading the clinical trials. Therefore, both ADC drugs and bispecific antibodies will see increasing application opportunities in lymphoma. We are confident that through rigorous clinical trials, we can expedite the approval of these drugs in China, benefiting not only Chinese lymphoma patients but also those worldwide.
Oncology Frontier – Hematology Frontier: What are the latest developments in BTK inhibitors for targeted therapy, and how have they performed in clinical trials?
Professor Jun Zhu: BTK inhibitors are another class of small molecule anti-cancer drugs. They play a role in regulating cell signaling pathways in lymphoma treatment. Among the currently approved BTK inhibitors, there are both imported and domestically developed drugs. The earliest imported BTK inhibitor was ibrutinib, followed by several domestically approved BTK inhibitors such as zanubrutinib and orelabrutinib. Other drugs are also completing clinical trials and awaiting approval. Moreover, a new-generation BTK inhibitor, acalabrutinib, has been approved in China. Therefore, China now has a richer variety of BTK inhibitors compared to other countries, including “three Brutons and one Aca” plus other new drugs. Overall, BTK inhibitors have shown excellent performance in lymphoma treatment.
Take zanubrutinib, for example. It was the first domestically developed BTK inhibitor approved in China, demonstrating outstanding efficacy and safety. Notably, it was the first Chinese-developed anti-lymphoma drug to go global. According to the latest news, this drug is now used in over 60 countries, generating considerable revenue with a rapid growth rate. These drugs have provided more options for lymphoma patients both in China and globally. Other BTK inhibitors, like orelabrutinib, have also achieved significant progress in expanding their indications. In summary, the application of small molecule drugs, combined with the aforementioned antibody-based large molecule drugs, will offer lymphoma patients more new treatment options.
Oncology Frontier – Hematology Frontier: What insights or expectations do you have regarding the future treatment of lymphoma patients, given the success of these clinical trials?
Professor Jun Zhu: The diagnosis and treatment of lymphoma have entered a new era, leading the wave of “targeted and precise immunotherapy.” The landscape of new lymphoma drugs is booming, encompassing large molecule drugs (including ADCs and antibody-based drugs like bispecific and multispecific antibodies), small molecule drugs (such as BTK inhibitors and PI3K inhibitors), and cell therapies (like CAR-T cells). With the extensive and in-depth application of these drugs, as well as their combined use, we may be able to achieve a breakthrough in lymphoma treatment without chemotherapy, moving away from the traditional reliance on chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Although this is a gradual process, these drugs have already brought us hope and opportunities. I want to tell patients that lymphoma is not terrifying—it is preventable, treatable, and curable. The increasing number of new drugs provides more hope for better treatment. I also encourage patients to courageously participate in clinical trials of new drugs, helping to advance these trials so that new drugs can serve patients sooner, faster, and better.
Expert Profile:
Professor Jun Zhu
– Peking University Cancer Hospital
– Secretary of the Party Committee, Director of the General Medicine Department, and Director of the Lymphoma Department at Peking University Cancer Hospital
– Vice President of the Board of Directors and Vice President of the Supervisory Board of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO)
– Vice President of the Beijing Hope Society for Clinical Oncology Research Foundation
– Chairperson of the Lymphoma Expert Committee of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology
– Vice President of the Beijing Anti-Cancer Association
– President of the Beijing Cancer Rehabilitation Association
– Vice Chairperson of the Oncology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association
– Member and Head of the Hematological Oncology Group of the Oncology Expert Committee for Capacity Building and Continuing Education under the National Health Commission
