Zanubrutinib is well tolerated and effective in patients with CLL/SLL intolerant of ibrutinib/acalabrutinib: updated results

Abstract: Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors such as ibrutinib (ibr) revolutionized chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) treatment, although treatment-related toxicities limit the use of some BTK inhibitors. Zanubrutinib, a potent next-generation BTK inhibitor, has...

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Main Authors: Mazyar Shadman, John M. Burke, Jennifer Cultrera, Habte A. Yimer, Syed F. Zafar, Jamal Misleh, Subramanya S. Rao, Charles M. Farber, Aileen Cohen, Hui Yao, Adam Idoine, Qi An, Ian W. Flinn, Jeff P. Sharman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:Blood Advances
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2473952925002733
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Summary:Abstract: Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors such as ibrutinib (ibr) revolutionized chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) treatment, although treatment-related toxicities limit the use of some BTK inhibitors. Zanubrutinib, a potent next-generation BTK inhibitor, has higher selectivity than ibrutinib or acalabrutinib. The ongoing phase 2, single-arm BGB-3111-215 study investigates the safety and efficacy of zanubrutinib in patients with B-cell malignancies who are intolerant of ibrutinib and/or acalabrutinib. Here, results in patients with CLL/SLL are presented. Patients received zanubrutinib 160 mg twice daily or 320 mg once a day. With a 34.5-month median follow-up, 71 patients (ibrutinib intolerant only, n = 44; acalabrutinib intolerant only, n = 17; ibrutinib and acalabrutinib intolerant, n = 10) received ≥1 zanubrutinib dose. On zanubrutinib, 54% (28/52) of ibrutinib-intolerant patients and 70% (19/27) of acalabrutinib-intolerant patients experienced no recurrence of intolerance adverse events (AEs); 60% and 72% of intolerance AEs did not recur, respectively. Of recurrent ibrutinib-intolerance AEs, 64% were lower grade; 44% of acalabrutinib-intolerance AEs were lower grade. No intolerance AEs recurred at a higher grade with zanubrutinib. The most common recurrent ibrutinib-intolerance and acalabrutinib-intolerance AEs were fatigue and diarrhea, respectively. The most common treatment-emergent AEs (TEAEs) with zanubrutinib were fatigue (32%) and COVID-19 (28%). Grade ≥3 TEAEs occurred in 61%, serious TEAEs in 32%, and TEAEs leading to discontinuation in 11%. Of 67 efficacy-evaluable patients, 94% experienced disease control: 30% had a best response of stable disease and 64% had a partial or complete response. These data demonstrate that patients intolerant of ibrutinib/acalabrutinib may benefit from switching to zanubrutinib therapy. This trial was registered at www.ClinicalTrials.gov as #NCT04116437.
ISSN:2473-9529