AbbVie’s Imbruvica shows effectiveness in mantle cell lymphoma treatment

AbbVie has announced new clinical data demonstrating the effectiveness of Imbruvica for patients with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma.

Results from the phase III RAY study showed that AbbVie's drug significantly prolonged progression-free survival and overall response rates in mantle cell lymphoma patients when compared with an established alternative.

Imbruvica was associated with a 57 percent reduction in the risk of progression or death, with a median follow-up of 20 months. This is notable as patients typically achieve only short-term remissions with conventional therapies.

These findings are consistent with results from previous single-arm phase II studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of the drug.

Dr Darrin Beaupre, head of early development and immunotherapy at Pharmacyclics, said: "We are pleased to see these results confirm the benefit of Imbruvica for patients with this aggressive form of blood cancer."

This comes after the firm reported positive clinical study data showing the effectiveness of Imbruvica in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia last week.