Dr. Wierda on Combination Regimens With Venetoclax in CLL

William G. Wierda, MD, PhD, professor, Department of Leukemia, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses two combination studies with venetoclax for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) during the 2015 ASH Annual Meeting.

Updated results of a phase Ib study examining the combination of venetoclax plus rituximab demonstrated deep and durable responses with patients with CLL, Wierda explains. Secondly, a phase III study of venetoclax plus obinutuzumab in patients with relapsed/refractory CLL also showed that the combination demonstrated activity in these patients.

Such combination regimens suggest that there is enhanced activity in patients when venetoclax is combined with a CD20 antibody, such as rituximab. However, Wierda cautions on comparing the efficacy of venetoclax as monotherapy and in combination with rituximab, since more data need to be conducted.

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