ASH 2016 | Exciting drug developments in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
John Gribben, MD, DSc, FRCPath, FMed Sci from Bart’s Cancer Institute, London, UK discusses the most exciting drug developments in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) at the 2016 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting, held in San Diego, CA. Prof. Gribben begins by explaining why venetoclax is considered the most exciting drug in CLL at the moment, the reason being the depth of the response seen in patients, which is increased when used in combination with an antibody such as rituximab or idelalisib. The aim of such trials, Prof. Gribben says, is to see whether groups of patients can go into such a deep remission that they are able stop taking medication altogether or, at least, for periods of time, thus allowing them a break from the constant reminder of their disease.
