Revolutionizing CLL Care With Targeted and Cellular Therapies

Cyrus M. Khan, MD, hematologist in the Division of Hematology and Cellular Therapy at West Penn Hospital of Allegheny Health Network, highlights some of the most recent and significant advancements in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) treatment.

In recent years, there have been significant advancements in non-chemotherapy treatments for CLL, including the approval of targeted therapies and immunotherapies. One major breakthrough, according to Khan, is the approval of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy for patients with CLL, especially those who have not responded to other treatments.

Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors like ibrutinib (Imbruvica), zanubrutinib (Brukinsa), and acalabrutinib (Calquence) have been effective, but until recently, there were no options for patients who progressed on these drugs. Now, Khan explains that a new BTK inhibitor, pirtobrutinib (Jaypirca), offers an alternative for these patients, representing yet another significant progress in CLL treatment options.

Transcription:

0:09 | We have had a lot over the last few years, a lot of advancements, [especially] as non-chemotherapeutic interventions are concerned. For example, we have had a lot of targeted agents that have been approved, a lot of immunotherapy. I think the newest advancement has been the approval of CAR T-cell therapy now for patients with CLL, which is the most sort of advancement.

0:37 | We have also had BTK inhibitors like ibrutinib, zanubrutinib, and acalabrutinib for quite some time, and they’ve been very effective treatments. However, until recently, we didn’t have a solution for patients who progressed on those BTK inhibitors. Now, we have a new drug called pirtobrutinib, which works for patients who have progressed on any of the three BTK inhibitors. This allows patients to continue with an oral treatment option.

1:08 | Then we never had a great cellular therapy option for patients who had progressed on the standard oral treatments and immunotherapies. Now, fortunately, CAR T-cell therapy is available for those patients as well, and it has been effective. This is a major breakthrough for patients with CLL.