Phase III study strengthens support of Ibrutinib as second-line therapy for CLL and SLL

Topic: Haematologic malignancies / Anticancer agents & Biologic therapy

In a head-to-head comparison of two drugs for the treatment of relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), ibrutinib statistically significantly outperformed ofatumumab as a second-line therapy, according to a multicentre interim study published in the OnLine First edition of the New England Journal of Medicine on 31 May 2014.

Ibrutinib is the first drug designed to target Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK), a protein essential for CLL-cell survival and proliferation. In patients with CLL or SLL, a short duration of response to therapy or adverse cytogenetic abnormalities are associated with a poor outcome.

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Studies mentioned:
Byrd JC, Brown JR, O’Brien S, et al. Ibrutinib versus Ofatumumab in Previously Treated Chronic Lymphoid Leukemia. NEJM 2014; OnLine First May 31, DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1400376

Woyach JA, Furman RR, Liu T-M, et al. Resistance Mechanisms for the Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Ibrutinib. NEJM 2014; OnLine First May 28. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1400029