Phase III iLLUMINATE trial of Imbruvica + Gazyva shows prolonged PFS in chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma.- AbbVie.

AbbVie announced results from the Phase III iLLUMINATE (PCYC-1130) trial, evaluating the chemotherapy-free, anti-CD20 combination of Imbruvica (ibrutinib) plus Gazyva (obinutuzumab) in patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL). At a median follow-up of 31 months, study results showed ibrutinib plus obinutuzumab significantly prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) (median not reached [NR] vs. 19 months) with a 77 percent reduction in risk of progression or death versus chlorambucil plus obinutuzumab, the current National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines Category 1 treatment regimen.

At a median follow-up of 31.3 months, ibrutinib plus obinutuzumab significantly prolonged the IRC-assessed PFS compared to chlorambucil plus obinutuzumab, with a 77 percent reduction in risk of progression or death (median NR vs. 19 months). At 30 months, the IRC-assessed PFS rates were 79 percent and 31 percent with ibrutinib plus obinutuzumab and chlorambucil plus obinutuzumab, respectively. The investigator-assessed PFS was also significantly improved with ibrutinib plus obinutuzumab versus chlorambucil plus obinutuzumab (median NR vs. 21.9 months). The PFS in the ibrutinib plus obinutuzumab arm in the high-risk population, including those with unmutated IGHV, del11q, del17p, or TP53 mutation was assessed, with an 85 percent reduction in risk of progression or death (median not reached vs. 14.7 months).

In addition, IRC-assessed ORR was higher in the ibrutinib plus obinutuzumab arm versus the chlorambucil plus obinutuzumab arm (88% vs. 73%); complete response (CR)/complete response with incomplete blood recovery (CRi) rates were also higher with 19 percent versus eight percent, respectively. The investigator-assessed ORR was also higher in the ibrutinib plus obinutuzumab arm versus the chlorambucil plus obinutuzumab arm (91% vs. 81%); CR/CRi rates were also higher with 41 percent versus 16 percent, respectively. Depth of remission as reflected by undetectable MRD in blood and/or bone marrow was greater in patients with ibrutinib plus obinutuzumab, with 35 percent of patients showing undetectable MRD compared to 25 percent of patients with chlorambucil plus obinutuzumab. OS rates at 31 months were 86 percent for the ibrutinib arm compared to 85 percent for the chlorambucil arm. Most common Grade 3 or higher adverse events (AEs) in the ibrutinib plus obinutuzumab arm versus chlorambucil plus obinutuzumab arm were neutropenia (43% vs. 63%), thrombocytopenia (35% vs. 25%), diarrhea (34% vs. 10%) The data were presented at the 2018 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and were simultaneously published in The Lancet Oncology.

See: "Ibrutinib plus obinutuzumab versus chlorambucil plus obinutuzumab in first-line treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (iLLUMINATE): a multicentre, randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial" Carol Moreno et al. The Lancet Oncology December 03, 2018DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(18)30788-5