U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Approves Combination Treatment of VENCLEXTA® (venetoclax) and Acalabrutinib for Previously Untreated Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)

Core Insights - The FDA has approved the combination treatment of VENCLEXTA® (venetoclax) and acalabrutinib for previously untreated adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), marking a significant advancement in treatment options [1][2] Group 1: FDA Approval and Treatment Significance - The approval is based on data from the Phase 3 AMPLIFY trial, establishing this regimen as the first all-oral, fixed-duration treatment for previously untreated CLL patients [1] - This combination offers patients the potential for time off treatment, enhancing long-term disease management [1][3] - The approval expands treatment choices for patients and healthcare providers, facilitating more targeted treatment decisions in CLL [1][3] Group 2: AMPLIFY Study Details - The AMPLIFY trial evaluated VENCLEXTA plus acalabrutinib against chemoimmunotherapy in previously untreated CLL patients without del(17p) or TP53 mutation [1] - Results indicated that the combination regimen reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 35% compared to chemoimmunotherapy (HR 0.65; 95% CI: 0.49-0.87; p=0.0038) [1] - Median progression-free survival (PFS) was not reached for the combination regimen, while it was 47.6 months for chemoimmunotherapy [1] Group 3: Safety Profile - The safety profile of the combination regimen aligns with the known safety profiles of each individual therapy [1] - Common adverse reactions (20%) include neutropenia, headache, diarrhea, musculoskeletal pain, and COVID-19 [1] - Serious adverse reactions (2%) include COVID-19 pneumonia (9%), second primary malignancies (2.7%), and neutropenia (2.1%) [1]