Dr. Maddocks on the Role of Zanubrutinib in B-Cell Malignancies

Kami J. Maddocks, MD, associate professor of clinical internal medicine, Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center–James, discusses the role of zanubrutinib (Brukinsa) in B-cell malignancies.

Zanubrutinib has demonstrated efficacy in patients with high-risk relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia with 17p deletion, relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), and Waldenström macroglobulinemia, says Maddocks.

Recently, data from the randomized phase 3 ASPEN trial demonstrated higher complete response and very good partial response rates with zanubrutinib compared with ibrutinib (Imbruvica) in patients with Waldenström macroglobulinemia.

Although the trial did not meet its primary end point, zanubrutinib was associated with a significantly reduced rate of atrial fibrillation, hypertension, and major bleeding, explains Maddocks.

Although additional research is needed to determine whether the agent has improved clinical activity compared with ibrutinib, zanubrutinib offers patients with B-cell malignancies another therapeutic option with less toxicity, concludes Maddocks.