Ibrutinib

[lartington]

Under what circumstances might a cll patient be given ibrutinib?? indeed is it licensed in the U.K. yet??

[zentangle]

Hi lartington,

It is not licensed here yet, although expected in July 2014. Reading between the lines, one MIGHT expect it if refractory to FCR or frail, as first line therapy, or post at least one cycle of FCR otherwise. However, there is a LOT of debate on here about cost. The present costing is about £60,000 per annum.( Rituxin is £14,000). There is also a lot of debate about its efficacy as a single treatment and whether it should be combined with other things.

I just found this in a post on cllsupportuk Forum from a UK resident, posted this April,

"My consultant thinks it will be approved later this year or early next. If I don't need treatment till then he thinks I could have it. It sounds very promising."

If you type Ibrutinib into the Search Engine, you should find the debates.

Regards,

zentangle

[LdnClll56]

I have just started treatment with Imbruvica (Ibrutinib) on a Named Patient basis. There is a window now until the end of September. The drugs are given by the manufacturer if they trust your specialist...therefore you may have to change your consultant.

[Mikey47 in reply to LdnClll56]

Yes, LdnClll56, for compassionate use, my consultant told me that there is a short window for registration until September. I think it is mostly for 17p deleted patients, my consultant is treating some people. Are you 17p deleted?

[lartington in reply to Mikey47]

yes......my husband has had prednisilone previously which gave him osteoporosis - four collapsed vertebrae, p17 deletion, therefore no chemo, frequent respiratory infections, skin cancers and a serious lung problem which requires daily nebulised antibiotics.

[LdnClll56]

I am not 17p deleted.

My response to FCR was ok, but not long lasting, so this is why Janssen approved the treatment....