Venclexta in combination with Rituxan yields high undetectable disease rates

AbbVie says new data from the Phase III MURANO trial shows high and durable undetectable minimal residual disease rates in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia treated with Venclexta (venetoclax) in combination with Roche/Biogen’s Rituxan (rituximab).
The trial showed 83% of patients treated with venetoclax in combination with rituximab maintained undetectable minimal residual disease (uMRD) and the 13.8 month check showed no progression. Patient best uMRD response rates were consistent regardless of risk factors, including 17p deletion, IGVH mutation and TP53 mutation.
Peter Hillmen, Professor of Experimental Haematology, Leeds Teaching Hospital, and lead investigator of the MURANO study said: “In this analysis of MRD data in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia given venetoclax in combination with rituximab, high and durable undetectable MRD rates were achieved in peripheral blood at the end of combination treatment assessment regardless of the risk features. These undetectable MRD results, along with data regarding the nearly 14-month progression-free findings in patients with relapsed/refractory CLL who maintained undetectable MRD, are an encouraging finding from the MURANO study.”
Neil Gallagher, head of Global Oncology Development, AbbVie said the data “adds to the growing body of evidence that supports a correlation between undetectable minimal residual disease (MRD) and improved clinical outcomes for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. We continue to investigate the correlation between undetectable MRD and clinical outcomes following treatment with venetoclax alone, or in novel combinations for the potential treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and other blood cancers.”