Imbruvica/Gazyva combination gives hope to chronic lymphocytic leukaemia patients

AbbVie/J&J’s Imbruvica is now approved in the US for six disease indications, including for frontline CLL treatment, for adult CLL patients who have received at least one prior therapy, and for those with 17p deletion. Combining it with Roche’s Gazyva has shown signs of hope in a Phase III clinical trial for the first chemotherapy-free CD20 combination for first-line treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). The trial compared the combination to chlorambucil/Gazvya in patients with previously untreated CLL or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). It was assessed by an Independent Review Committee and showed that the Imbruvica plus Gazyva regimen significantly improved progression-free survival in comparison with chlorambucil/Gazvya.
Danelle James, head of Clinical Science at Pharmacyclics, an AbbVie company said:
“We are optimistic about the topline results from the iLLUMINATE study and the fact that Imbruvica plus obinutuzumab demonstrated marked improvement in progression-free survival compared to obinutuzumab plus chlorambucil, a combination which is currently recommended by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines as a Category 1 treatment.”