LLM 2021 | BTK inhibitors for CLL: acalabrutinib vs ibrutinib
Thomas Kipps, MD, PhD, UC San Diego, Moores Cancer Center, La Jolla, CA, discusses the use of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors, particularly acalabrutinib and ibrutinib, in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Prof. Kipps explains that acalabrutinib is a more selective BTK inhibitor that may be better tolerated by patients. In the first head-to-head trial (ELEVATE CLL R/R; NCT02477696) of acalabrutinib versus ibrutinib in CLL, acalabrutinib demonstrated non-inferior progression-free survival to ibrutinib, and the adverse events profile differed between the two drugs. Indicating that there are more choices to treat patients who respond differently to treatments and who may present different side effects. Additionally, the list of BTK inhibitors in development is growing rapidly, representing more options for patients. This interview took place at the Lymphoma, Leukemia & Myeloma Congress 2021.
