And here's an update: Phase 1b Study of Investigational Treatment Venetoclax with Rituximab Shows Clinical Response in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory CLL: PR Newswire
"- Preliminary findings showed 84 percent overall response rate in patients treated with investigational combination therapy
- Six patients discontinued therapy after achieving a complete response (CR/CRi). Three patients maintained (CR/CRi) after a median of 12 months (0-21)"
Thanks for this, Neil. So it seems that a few people, after finishing a course of ABT-199, came off it and their CLL did not progress for at least a year... Am I right that this is very different from Ibrutinib, where the disease seems to come back very quickly after it is stopped?
I guess numbers are too small to assume too much, but a new agent that doesn't have to be taken for the rest of someone's life, would be wonderful.
P.S. Well done Jay, for your brilliant bird and flower detection skills.. .
Don't forget that this is a combined trial of ABT-199 (Venetoclax) and Rituximab/(Mabthera). Ibrutinib in combination with other drugs may also provide long remissions, but when taken on its own, you are right, it seems that you need to be on it indefinitely. It is still early days yet with both drugs; perhaps some patients with the right CLL genetics that show deep responses after several years on Ibrutinib might be able to come off it. It does seem that the drug activity remains effective in continually reducing the ALC years out, provided the patient doesn't develop resistance. Watch this space...
BCL2 inhibitors, like ABT-199, have been around for about 10 years. A previous version called Genesense, failed to make FDA final approval in 2008 because the company didn’t find a white knight and couldn't complete all the hurdles...
Like everything in CLL some patients do well others fail earlier, but it is a vital new treatment...
My interest would be Venetoclax and Gazyva (obinutuzumab)... rituxan is the new chlorambucil trial wise, in my view... but they stick to drugs they know well...
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Please share experience of venetoclax plus obinutuzimab or acalabrutinib mono treatment in an important survey
Month 21 of 24 Rituximab and Venetoclax 
Update
