Dr. Mehta on the Rationale for Utilizing Parsaclisib in Relapsed or Refractory MCL

Amitkumar Mehta, MD, an associate professor for the University of Alabama at Birmingham, discusses the rationale behind utilizing parsaclisib (INCB050465) in relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) as part of the phase 2 CITADEL-205 study.

Numerous developments have been made in the treatment of patients with MCL, including the emergence of BTK inhibitors, which have made their mark due to the responses they elicit in the relapsed/refractory setting, according to Mehta. However, the frontline setting is still challenging because of the number of available treatments, Mehta says. Although CAR T-cell therapy and BTK inhibitors have had a great impact on the paradigm, the latter are associated with several adverse effects, including atrial fibrillation and bleeding issues, adds Mehta.

Due to this, there is a need for novel, highly-active agents with more tolerable safety profiles. This formed the rationale for evaluating parsaclisib in relapsed/refractory MCL, as PI3K inhibitors have proven to be highly effective in this disease, explains Mehta. Additionally, the agent has demonstrated activity in other B-cell lymphomas, such as follicular lymphoma and marginal zone lymphoma, Mehta concludes.