In December 2025, the FLF team headed to the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida, one of the world’s premier gatherings for groundbreaking hematology research. We didn’t only attend, we’re also co-hosted a symposium with Decera Clinical Education and held a workshop with FLF supported investigators bringing together pioneering researchers who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in follicular lymphoma (FL).
What is ASH?
The ASH Annual Meeting brings together more than 30,000 hematologists, researchers, clinicians, and industry leaders from around the world. Each year, it serves as a global hub for sharing the latest discoveries in blood cancers and blood disorders, from early laboratory science to late-stage clinical trials. For anyone working in lymphoma research, ASH is where new ideas are introduced, collaborations are sparked, and the future direction of the field takes shape.
Professor Jessica Okosun reports major progress for follicular lymphoma at ASH, emphasising both clinical advances and biological insights.
1. Breakthrough clinical trial results
A large, randomized trial of a new triplet therapy: Epcoritamab (a bispecific antibody) + Rituximab + Lenalidomide, showed exceptional effectiveness in relapsed FL.
2. Bispecific Antibodies showing strong promise
Multiple bispecific antibodies, including Epcoritamab and Mosunetuzumab, demonstrated high activity in both:
• First-line treatment
• Relapsed disease
They appear effective alone or in combinations, highlighting a rapidly expanding and promising treatment class.
3. Need to balance efficacy and safety
As bispecific antibodies become more widely used, clinicians must monitor infection risks and manage treatment sequencing, since increasing options make it harder to determine the optimal order of therapies.
4. Advances in understanding FL Biology
New research, including work from Karin Tarte, explored why FL returns by analysing the biology of the disease at diagnosis and relapse.
Identifying residual treatment-resistant cells may point to new ways to prevent recurrence.
Overall
ASH showcased significant progress in both new therapies and biological understanding, marking an exciting and important moment for the future of follicular lymphoma care.
Watch Professor Jessica Okosun explain these highlights in the video below. If you prefer to read, the transcript is available here.
Read more about the EPCORE trial here: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)02360-8/fulltext
Read more about Karin Tarte’s presentation on the biology of follicular lymphoma: https://meetings-api.hematology.org/api/abstract/vmpreview/293069
Driving progress at ASH
Our mission is simple yet bold: to help unlock a cure for follicular lymphoma. But this isn’t something any single team or organisation can achieve alone. Around the world, exceptional researchers are advancing their own specialized areas of science, but true progress accelerates when ideas converge.
That’s why we bring people together: not only to foster collaboration, but to shine a brighter light on follicular lymphoma, expand funding opportunities, and create a space for learning that pushes the field forward. Through our symposium and other key gatherings, we unite researchers dedicated specifically to FL, encouraging them to share insights, challenge assumptions, and spark the breakthroughs that happen only when the right minds are in the same room.
In the symposium experts shared advice to clinicians on how best to use new treatments like bispecific antibodies and CAR-T to help people whose FL has returned or not responded to previous treatment. Dr Mitchell Smith, FLF’s CMO, took to the stage to ensure the patient voice is front and centre in these discussions.
Why collaboration matters for FL
Collaboration accelerates progress, especially in a rare disease like FL. When experts connect, they share insights, avoid duplication, and spark new ideas. Because many FL researchers focus on very specific areas, it can be hard for them to find peers who truly understand their work. By hosting events at conferences like ASH, we’re helping build a global network that breaks down those barriers.
And progress in the lab is only the start. A cure can only reach patients through large-scale clinical trials, which are far more challenging in rare diseases. Trials often need to span continents so they can find enough people to take part and make sure the results reflect a wide mix of patients. By strengthening international partnerships, we help lay the groundwork for future trials, and ultimately, better treatments.
Putting patients at the heart of research
In November 2025, we held workshops, online and in person, with people affected by FL, asking what they want research to achieve and barriers to accessing clinical trials. We have also drawn on findings from our recent global patient survey, which highlight real-world challenges, priorities and hopes of 1000+ people living with FL. By bringing these insights to ASH and engaging directly with scientists, clinicians, and pharmaceutical leaders, we’re making sure patient voices are heard where it matters most.
Support our mission
Join us in driving life-changing research for people living with follicular lymphoma. Your support directly fuels innovative science, global collaboration, and the search for a cure.
Together, we can bring a cure for follicular lymphoma within reach.
