Dr Stilgenbauer on Efficacy Data for Tacabrutideg in CLL from CaDAnCe-101

“The bottom line is that there continues to be dramatic development in [the CLL field]. [CaDAnCe-101] demonstrates that when we target disease biology with novel principles, we can overcome treatment resistance and high-risk disease features.”

Stephan Stilgenbauer, MD, a professor in the Department of Hematology, Oncology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases at the University of Ulm, discussed efficacy data for tacabrutideg (BGB-16673) in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) from the phase 1/2 CaDAnCe-101 trial (NCT05006716),which were presented at the 2026 EHA Congress. In addition to discussing data from the trial that were presented at the meeting, Stilgenbauer detailed how these data will serve as a basis for future development of tacabrutideg and other BTK degraders.

Data from the trial reported that patients with CLL or small lymphocytic lymphoma who received tacabrutideg (n = 67), achieved an overall response rate (ORR) of 85.1%, with 2 patients achieving a complete response (CR) or a CR with incomplete bone marrow recovery. Moreover, patients achieved an ORR of 94.1% at the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of 200 mg (n = 17). Patients also achieved a median time to first response of 2.8 months (range, 2.7-8.3) at the RP2D, a median duration of response (DOR) that was 20.6 months (range, 0.0-33.1) at the RP2D, and a median DOR of 20.7 months (range, 0.0-33.1) across all dose levels.

Stilgenbauer started by pointing out the strong ORRs shown for tacabrutideg in the trial, noting that this efficacy signal was particularly strong in certain subsets of patients. Additionally, he highlighted how the durations of these responses were durable, exlpaining that with a median follow-up of approximately 2 years, over half of the patients were progression free and still alive. Stilgenbauer concluded by explaining how data from the trial confirm beliefs of overcoming treatment resistance and high-risk disease features by targeting disease biology, helping to improve the lives of patients.