Late breaking CLL abstract at ASH 2017 - VR vs BR

[avzuclav]

ash.confex.com/ash/2017/web...

Conclusion

The primary analysis of MURANO, the first Phase 3 study of V in R/R CLL, shows a profound improvement in PFS vs standard BR chemoimmunotherapy, with consistent effects in all-risk subsets. Key secondary endpoints, including OS, ORR and CR rate, also showed consistent improvements with remarkable rates of peripheral blood MRD– that exceed those previously attained in treatment of R/R CLL. This enhanced disease control was achieved in a multinational setting with an acceptable safety profile, without significant TLS, demonstrating that treatment with VR resulted in outcomes superior to that of BR for pts with R/R CLL.

[Bluejazz]

Score another victory for targeted therapy vs. chemo. However, much work needs to be done on subsequent treatments for those who eventually fail targeted therapy.

[Hidden]

sounds like a big win for venetoclax!

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero]

Should pave the way for second line broad FDA approval next year, which was the intent... bit of a slam dunk...

~chris

[Justasheet1 in reply to Cllcanada]

Chris,

Perhaps a head to head of Imbruvica vs Venclexta & Rituxin?

Second line.

Jeff

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero in reply to Justasheet1]

No contest... Imbruvica (ibrutinib) would get its behind handed to it in my opinion... ibrutinib hasn't got MRD- horsepower...

[Indolent in reply to Cllcanada]

The real question is, will we see some pricing competition between ibrutinib and venetoclax???

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero in reply to Indolent]

There is no pricing competition in the U.S... closed market for CLL drugs under thr Orphan drug act and huge incentives for companies, extended patent protection etc.

~chris

[Indolent in reply to Cllcanada]

Are ibrutinib and venetoclax manufactured by the same company?

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero in reply to Indolent]

Yes...

Venetoclax Abbvie distributed Roche

Ibrutinib Abbvie distributed Janssen

[Indolent in reply to Cllcanada]

The real potential win will be if the trials prove that venetoclax will deliver a deep remission in two years or so, such that it allows a patient to go untreated for a few years. That's a big win!

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero in reply to Indolent]

Venetoclax gives very deep MRD negatives, often in a few months... this has been established, but unfortunately there are patients for whom it does not work and others for whom it fails...

The hope is to keep patients on it until MRD then stop.. and restart a few years or more later...

~chris

[hanskloss in reply to Cllcanada]

I have been on Venetoclax monotherapy trial since June 22 this year. Achieved normal blood counts in 5 weeks, still slightly depressed levels for platalets since original FCR but lymphocytes down to 0.85 from 150 June 22...hoping for MRD negative at the end of the trial... Really happy with this med, been fighting for it for more than a year...