Dr. Seymour on the Kinase Selectivity of BTK Inhibitors in CLL

Erlene Seymour, MD, an assistant professor at Wayne State University School of Medicine and a hematologist/oncologist at Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, discusses the kinase selectivity of BTK inhibitors in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

There is a highly specific kinase receptor binding in newer BTK inhibitors, says Seymour. For example, acalabrutinib (Calquence) and zanubrutinib (Brukinsa) have less binding on EGFR, therefore, it is believed that these agents will cause less gastrointestinal adverse effects in patients with CLL. Additionally, there is not as much binding on targets that are important for platelet inhibition with these BTK inhibitors, which could result in less bleeding in this patient population, adds Seymour.

The BTK inhibitors that are currently under development are being designed to have more favorable toxicity profiles, concludes Seymour.