# AVM0703 combined with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma standard of care to enhance complete response rates without additional toxicities

> **NIH NIH R43** · AVM BIOTECHNOLOGY, LLC · 2022 · $399,193

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL) represents 4% of all cancer diagnosed in the U.S., and as many as 50%
of patients will relapse within 2 years of diagnosis and treatment. The current standard of care is
chemotherapy. For Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma subtype (DLBCL) CHOP (cyclophosphamide-
doxorubicin-vincristine-prednisone) is given in combination with an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, such as
rituximab (R-CHOP). Unfortunately, chemotherapy requires numerous treatment cycles with challenging side
effects and does not completely remove the cancerous lymphocytes, as indicated by the frequency of relapse.
A drug that could reduce the lymphoma population and essentially increase the potency of the chemotherapy
regimen (fewer lymphoma cells to the chemotherapy concentration) would have the potential to be synergistic
as a treatment strategy. AVM0703, a proprietary formulation of high concentration dexamethasone
developed by AVM Biotechnology, has been shown to control NHL growth in murine models. It also safely
reduces lymphocytes following a single very high dose via one-hour infusion, in both pre-clinical and clinical
settings. AVM0703 is currently the subject of a US-based clinical study in no-option, relapsed/refractory NHL
patients and is distinguished from other investigative drugs in this ‘terminal no-option’ patient population by
its absence of safety concerns with patients reporting feeling great, regaining appetite and energy, and
durable response recorded. The goal of this project is to validate the combination of AVM0703 and standard
DLBCL chemotherapy R-CHOP. This approach is expected to increase complete response rates and
potentially reduce the required number of chemotherapy cycles, providing a more tolerable therapeutic option
for newly diagnosed NHL patients. The feasibility of this approach will be validated in Phase I with the
following aims: Aim 1) Evaluate the ability of AVM0703 in combination with R-CHOP to reduce R-CHOP
cycles in an aggressive, immune-resistant murine B cell NHL model. Aim 2) Assessment of AVM0703
combination therapy with reduced dose R-CHOP to enhance outcomes in elderly patients. The Phase II
project will further focus on efficacy studies, and a small clinical trial with newly diagnosed NHL patients to
evaluate the effects of this novel therapeutic treatment approach.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10546563
- **Project number:** 1R43CA271951-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** AVM BIOTECHNOLOGY, LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** Theresa Deisher
- **Activity code:** R43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $399,193
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-08-05 → 2023-10-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10546563

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10546563, AVM0703 combined with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma standard of care to enhance complete response rates without additional toxicities (1R43CA271951-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10546563. Licensed CC0.

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