Dr. Bhat on the Rationale to Evaluate Acalabrutinib in CLL

Seema A. Bhat, MD, a hematologist specializing in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center–James, discusses the rationale to evaluate acalabrutinib (Calquence) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

The international phase 3 ASCEND trial randomized patients with previously treated CLL to receive acalabrutinib monotherapy or rituximab (Rituxan) in combination with idelalisib (Zydelig) or bendamustine.

Acalabrutinib is a next-generation BTK inhibitor that, like ibrutinib (Imbruvica), is covalently binding, Bhat explains.

Moreover, in November 2019, acalabrutinib was granted regulatory approval by the FDA for the treatment of patients with CLL or small lymphocytic lymphoma based on findings from the ASCEND trial, as well as results from the phase 3 ELEVATE-TN trial, concludes Bhat.