Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

AbbVie has announced plans to acquire the blockbuster BTK inhibitor ibrutinib, through a $21 billion acquisition of Pharmacyclics.

For additional insight on new agents and other emerging CLL therapies, OncLive spoke with Thomas Kipps, MD, PhD, professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology-Oncology, and Deputy Director for Research at the UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center.

Thomas Kipps, MD, PhD, Division of Hematology-Oncology Deputy Director for Research at the UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, discusses the mechanisms of ibrutinib and idelalisib for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Jeffrey Jones, MD, presented evidence supporting the integration of obinutuzumab, ibrutinib, ofatumumab, and idelalisib into the frontline setting for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Standard chemotherapy remains part of the treatment paradigm for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia but its role is undergoing a major shift as significant advances are being made in novel therapies.

ASCO named the vastly improved outlook for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia as its inaugural "Cancer Advance of the Year."

The FDA has updated the label for obinutuzumab plus chlorambucil to include data from stage 2 of the phase III CLL11 study, which detailed an unprecedented improvement in progression-free survival compared with rituximab plus chlorambucil as a frontline treatment for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Idelalisib monotherapy shows activity in treatment-naïve patients ≥65 years with CLL or SLL, with nearly 90% of patients enrolled in a phase II study demonstrating a partial response.