Where diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treatment is heading
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma · Updated Nov 13, 2026
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is the most common aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma, about 25,000 US cases a year. Standard R-CHOP chemotherapy cures roughly 60%. Since 2023, an antibody-drug conjugate (polatuzumab vedotin) has improved on that, and bispecific antibodies are now being tested as additions to, or replacements for, chemotherapy at every stage.
- 470studies open or running
- 44phase 3 trials
- 1,779papers published this year
- 40NIH-funded projects
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Now
Nov 2026
A durable new standard first treatmentHappened 64.9% progression-free at 5 yrs
Pola-R-CHP holds more people in remission at 5 years than R-CHOP: 64.9% vs 59.1%.
64.9%: progression-free at 5 years, vs 59.1% with R-CHOP.
A bispecific antibody cuts risk in half as a first treatmentHappened 51% lower risk
Adding epcoritamab to R-CHOP lowered the risk of progression or death by 51% for higher-risk DLBCL.
51%: lower risk of progression or death.
A relapse drug with a mixed regulatory resultHappened
Epcoritamab alone delayed relapse but missed the survival goal the FDA requires in the US.
A trial too narrow for US approvalHappened 25.5 mo median survival
Glofitamab plus chemo roughly doubled survival after relapse, but the FDA rejected it for having too few US patients.
25.5 mo: median survival with glofitamab combination, vs 12.9 months.
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6 months
by May 2027
Full EPCORE DLBCL-2 data and a filingLikely 51% lower risk
Complete results and a likely FDA application are expected to follow the October 2026 topline news.
51%: lower risk of progression or death.
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12 months
by Nov 2027
Another antibody added to first-line chemoPossible
Incyte's frontMIND (899 people) tests tafasitamab added to R-CHOP; due September 2026.
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3 years
by late 2029
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5 years
by late 2031
Bispecific antibodies without chemotherapy at allLong shot
EPCORE DLBCL-4 compares epcoritamab plus lenalidomide, with no chemotherapy, against R-CHOP; due March 2028.
The research paths
Bispecific antibodies
51% lower riskDetails and 2 trialsHide
Moving from relapsed disease into first-line combinations and chemo-free regimens.
WatchEPCORE DLBCL-2 full data and filing; OLYMPIA-3.
Antibody-drug conjugates
64.9% progression-free at 5 yrsDetails and 1 trialsHide
Polatuzumab vedotin set the current standard; others are being tested.
WatchLonger follow-up; loncastuximab combinations.
Targeted pills added to chemo
Details and 2 trialsHide
BTK inhibitors and other antibodies paired with standard chemotherapy.
WatchESCALADE and frontMIND.
Borrowed from other cancers
From Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Acalabrutinib
Phase 3
A BTK inhibitor being tested with chemotherapy in DLBCL.
From Other blood cancers
Bispecific antibody design
Approved (later-line)
T-cell engaging antibodies first developed across lymphoma and leukemia.
Open to join now
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Newly diagnosed
Zilovertamab vedotin combination
Locations and eligibility → -
Newly diagnosed
Odronextamab with chemotherapy
Locations and eligibility → -
Relapsed or refractory
Zilovertamab vedotin
Locations and eligibility →
See every recruiting DLBCL trial →
When the trials finish
Completion dates the trials registered. Results usually follow 3 to 12 months later.
- Heating up
- Maturing
- Early
- Cooling
- Fully enrolled, waiting on results
- Still enrolling
What just happened
EPCORE DLBCL-2: 51% lower risk as first treatment
Topline results.
Epcoritamab misses US survival goal in relapsed disease
EPCORE DLBCL-1.
Standard treatment today
- First treatmentPola-R-CHP (or R-CHOP) chemotherapy, 6 cycles.
- Relapse, transplant-eligibleSalvage chemotherapy, then autologous stem cell transplant; CAR T-cell therapy if that fails.
- Relapse, not transplant-eligibleA bispecific antibody (epcoritamab or glofitamab), tafasitamab, or other targeted combinations.
- After multiple relapsesCAR T-cell therapy, loncastuximab tesirine, or a clinical trial.
How to read this page, and sourcesHow to read this page, and sources
- Results above are for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; other lymphoma subtypes (follicular, Hodgkin, and others) are treated differently and some have their own outlook pages.
- Forecasts are editorial judgments by Find a Trial, not predictions from sponsors or regulators.
See DLBCL trials recruiting now →