Curious about the clock for O + V treatment

[lisakc1]

Dumb question... does anyone know when the one-year clock starts for the O+V treatment? Does it begin with the first O infusion, first V dose, or when both drugs have reached "ramp-up" dosage? Thank you so much!

Lisa

[AussieNeil Administrator]

If you are referring to the time before you are likely to respond to vaccinations after treatment with any anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, it's appropriate 1 year after the date of your last infusion. The mechanism behind this observation is that these monoclonal antibodies, obinutuzumab in the O+V case, but also rituximab and ofatumumab, etc., keep circulating in your blood, killing any new B cells/CLL cells until all of the drug is used up. This is the down side of the longer remissions you get with these very effective treatment drugs. I didn't see an increase in my B cell population until nearly 2 years after my last obinutuzumab infusion. Your doctor can check your B cell population with the immunophenotype flow cytometry test - the same test used to diagnose your CLL.

Neil

[lisakc1 in reply to AussieNeil]

Thank you! Counting the days already!

[Smakwater in reply to AussieNeil]

In addition, it is my understanding that the doctor can recommend to or halt treatment at any point and specifically with regard to reaching MRD or better. In some cases of tolerability and co-morbidities, stopping treatment may be favorable.

[Schubert1870]

There’s no dumb question here! Sometimes it is the simplest of questions that can be the most important. 😊

[Fran57]

Great question… the answers are always helpful to us all 😉

[Flute117]

My specialist had me on the full dose of V for almost a year. So my “year” lasted a little over 13 months from my first O infusion .

[NaturalWaze]

Actually this is a great question and I wish I had asked it! It is one year after you reach the full dose of V (when ramp up is done). I know this because I started V in January 2021 and was expecting to be taken off in Jan 2022, but it didn’t work that way.

[McBuster]

My treatment lasted exactly 1 year. Started on the day I received my first O infusion and that was the day I stopped my V pills one year later.

[Sumoldbloke]

here is the chart from Abbvie showing the timeline as an example

Color photo of chart

[Sumoldbloke]

This shows an example which indicates 12 four week cycles. So the full treatment is just short of a calendar year.

Example taken from brochure supplied by Abbvie the manufacturer of Venclexta (Venetoclax)

[Hiker13]

Mine followed what Sumoldbloke just posted, 12 4 week cycles. Started July 20, 2021 and ended June 20, 2022.

[lisakc1]

Many thanks to you all! I believe it is important to celebrate each and every milestone. Planning an outdoor celebration at the end of the infusions and something a little more special at the end of the oral treatment. Still need to be careful, as my husband's immune system will still be in recovery mode, but it gives us all something to look forward to!

[Gisygirl]

After being switched from Imbruvica, I had 2 IV does of the O..but it made my white cells go dangerously low...pulled back up after a hospital stay...so no more O...was then started on Venclexta ... took a few months for my body to acclimate to it...been on it a few months over 1 year. now.....

[Onmytime]

Started O May 2021. Started V June 2021. Completed O infusions Sept 2021. Completed V June 2022. Labs Sept 2022 confirmed UMRD (my official celebration day!!). I love the idea of celebrating each milestone! Best of luck to you!