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ICML 2021 | What is on the horizon for CLL cellular therapy?

William Wierda, MD, PhD, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, discusses what the future holds for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cellular therapy. Whilst cellular therapies exist for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), there is a lack of commercially available cellular therapies for adult leukemias. Potential therapies will likely be suited for patients who are refractory to targeted therapies such as Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) or BCL2 inhibitors. Promising trial data suggests that there will soon be cellular therapies licensed for patients with CLL. This interview took place during the 2021 International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma (16-ICML).

Transcript (edited for clarity)

The horizon for CLL and cellular therapy is, we have products that are commercially available for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. We have products that are available for acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the pediatric setting. The leukemias in adults and its options for cellular therapy in the adult population, whether it be ALL or CLL have lagged in terms of having a commercial product available. But I am very optimistic that we will have a commercially available product in time...

The horizon for CLL and cellular therapy is, we have products that are commercially available for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. We have products that are available for acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the pediatric setting. The leukemias in adults and its options for cellular therapy in the adult population, whether it be ALL or CLL have lagged in terms of having a commercial product available. But I am very optimistic that we will have a commercially available product in time. I think that product will be most appropriate for patients who have failed standard approaches. Standard approaches today, being targeted therapies, either BTK-based inhibitor and/or BCL2-based inhibitor.

But it’s impressive that we see these durable responses among the subgroup of patients in the refractory setting that I would consider the most high risk. We did have patients with 17p deletion who were treated in this cohort, and we saw responses among those that were durable. So I think in the near horizon, hopefully we will have a product that’s approved and commercially available for treatment of refractory patients. And as we get more experience and have more understanding of the activity of the safety and tolerability and management of those issues, I do anticipate we will see it move earlier into the treatment algorithms. And I’m optimistic that it may be a part of our curative strategies for patients with CLL.

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