EMA Review: Imbruvica with R-CHOP for MCL

The submission seeks approval for an indication extension of Imbruvica  (ibrutinib) in combination with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone (R-CHOP) for the treatment of adult patients with previously untreated mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), who are eligible for autologous stem cell transplant (transplant). This regulatory submission is supported by data from the TRIANGLE study, conducted by the European MCL Network.

“Mantle cell lymphoma remains an incurable and challenging disease to treat, particularly in younger patients in need of durable frontline options,” said Edmond Chan, MBChB, M.D. (Res), EMEA Therapeutic Area Lead Haematology, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine. “The TRIANGLE study demonstrates ibrutinib’s potential to replace or compliment a transplant-based regimen, offering eligible patients a more effective path to long term remission and representing the first major step forward in frontline mantle cell lymphoma treatment in years.”

The proposed indication is supported by results from the Phase 3 TRIANGLE study (NCT02858258) which investigated 870 patients across three treatment arms: standard induction immunochemotherapy followed by transplant, induction immunochemotherapy plus ibrutinib followed by transplant and 2-year fixed-duration ibrutinib therapy, and induction immunochemotherapy plus ibrutinib without transplant, followed by 2-year fixed-duration ibrutinib therapy

Prolonged efficacy and safety data from the TRIANGLE study were recently presented by the principal investigator Prof. Dr. Martin Dreyling, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, as an oral presentation at the 2024 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting.

“At Johnson & Johnson, we are committed to investing in innovation that transforms clinical outcomes for those living with complex blood cancers, including mantle cell lymphoma,” said Jessica Vermeulen, Vice President, Oncology Late Development, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine. “Today’s submission to the EMA could represent a pivotal step in moving beyond transplant as the frontline standard of care for younger patients with mantle cell lymphoma.”