Dr. Leslie on the Role of Zanubrutinib in MCL

Lori A. Leslie, MD, lymphoma attending, John Theurer Cancer Center, discusses the role of zanubrutinib (Brukinsa) in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).

In November 2019, the FDA granted an accelerated approval to zanubrutinib for the treatment of patients with MCL who have received at least 1 prior therapy, marking the first approval for the next-generation BTK inhibitor.

Additional approvals ​for zanubrutinib are anticipated in diseases such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia and Waldenström macroglobulinemia, says Leslie.

​Zanubrutinib is currently competing with the BTK inhibitors ibrutinib (Imbruvica) and acalabrutinib (Calquence), which are also approved in this setting, Leslie says.

Although zanubrutinib has not been revolutionary in the treatment landscape ​of MCL, ​the agent may provide more flexibility ​and convenience ​with less toxicity than ​ibrutinib and acalabrutinib, explains Leslie.

Furthermore, zanubrutinib can be given with proton-pump inhibitors, which is important for patients who develop acid reflux, Leslie concludes.