A closer look at blinatumomab.

On March 29, 2018, blinatumomab (Blincyto, Amgen) received an accelerated expanded approval for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who are in first or second complete remission (CR) and have minimal residual disease (MRD). Blinatumomab was first approved for use in adult patients (in December 2014) and later in pediatric patients (in September 2016) with relapsed or refractory Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-negative B-cell precursor ALL; the approval was expanded in July 2017 to include patients with Ph-positive disease. The agent is a bispecific CD19-directed CD3 T-cell engager.