Pharmacyclics: Ibrutinib Increases Progression-free Survival In CLL/SLL Patients

(RTTNews) - Pharmacyclics LLC said that results of the Phase III HELIOS trial found that patients with previously treated chronic lymphocytic leukemia or CLL, or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) who received ibrutinib in combination with bendamustine and rituximab experienced an 80 percent reduction in the risk of progression or death, compared to patients receiving placebo in combination with BR.

Patients also experienced a higher overall response rate, a key secondary endpoint, including achieving a higher rate of complete responses or CR, after a median follow-up of 17 months.

These data will be presented in an oral, late-breaking abstract session by lead investigator Asher Chanan-Khan, M.D., Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL during the Leukemia, Myelodysplasia, and Transplantation track at 2:27 p.m. CT today at the 51st American Society of Clinical Oncology or ASCO Annual Meeting in Chicago.

ibrutinib or Imbruvica is jointly developed and commercialized by Pharmacyclics and Janssen Biotech, Inc.