Benzinga | Nov 5, 2021 09:36AM EDT

AstraZeneca Announced Calquence Shows Durable Efficacy and Favourable Tolerability vs Standards of Care Across Multiple Analyses in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia

AstraZenecaCalquence shows durable efficacy and favourable tolerability vs. standardsof care across multiple analyses in chronic lymphocytic leukaemiaNew Calquence tablet formulation will potentially expand eligible patientpopulation with comparable efficacy and safety to current capsulesEmerging pipeline will also demonstrate promise of inducing deeper patient responses using novel combinations for hard-to-treat blood cancers

AstraZeneca will present new data underscoring its commitment to transforming haematologic cancer care at the 63rd American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition, 11 to 14 December 2021.

More than 25 abstracts will feature data across the Company's haematology portfolio and pipeline, including new analyses from the Calquence (acalabrutinib) Phase III programme such as an oral presentation of three-year follow-up data from the ASCEND Phase III trial in relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL).

Overall, data will span over 10 types of blood cancers and related conditions with a focus on CLL, mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and acute myeloid leukaemia.

Dave Fredrickson, Executive Vice President, Oncology Business Unit, AstraZeneca, said: "Our robust Calquence data at ASH will include an important new formulation designed to expand the pool of patients who may benefit from Calquence. Moreover, data from three Phase III trials will show the sustained efficacy and safety of Calquence, which is central to our commitment to prioritise the patient experience while providing long-term control of the disease in those with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia."

Anas Younes, Senior Vice President, Haematology R&D, AstraZeneca, said: "Testing new ways of overcoming drug resistance and continually pushing for better and deeper responses for patients are core focus areas of our early haematology portfolio. The preclinical data we are presenting at this year's ASH meeting for capivasertib and AZD4573 add to the emerging body of evidence showing the potential for new approaches to become the cornerstones of tomorrow's combination therapies for hard-to-treat blood cancers."

AstraZeneca's commitment to putting CLL patients first

A risk-benefit analysis showing quality-adjusted time without symptoms or toxicity (Q-TWiST) from the ELEVATE-RR and ASCEND trials in relapsed or refractory CLL will report the difference between Calquence and either ibrutinib or the combination of rituximab with idelalisib or bendamustine, balancing risk (toxicity) and benefit (prolonged survival without symptoms of progression or adverse events)Data introducing a maleate tablet formulation of Calquence will establish bioequivalence to the current capsule and would enable co-administration with proton pump inhibitors or via nasogastric tube for patients with swallowing challenges, offering an opportunity to provide Calquence to patients for whom it was previously not an optionFurther analyses from Calquence Phase III trial programme reinforce long-term safety and efficacy for patients with CLL

An oral presentation will show durable efficacy for Calquence over three years in relapsed or refractory CLL from the ASCEND trial, evaluating the treatment versus investigator's choice of rituximab combined with either idelalisib or bendamustineA sub-analysis from the head-to-head ELEVATE-RR trial for Calquence versus ibrutinib in relapsed or refractory CLL will further characterise adverse events related to Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitionA matching-adjusted indirect comparison using data from the ELEVATE-TN trial will compare the safety profile of Calquence alone or in combination with obinutuzumab to either ibrutinib monotherapy or venetoclax in combination with obinutuzumabEmerging pipeline molecules show therapeutic potential in novel combinations

Preclinical data will be presented showing that capivasertib (AZD5363), an AKT inhibitor being evaluated in a number of solid and haematological tumours, showed significant activity in murine DLBCL models when combined with venetoclax. This data continues to broaden our understanding of the role of AKT inhibitors in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL). Capivasertib monotherapy is being explored in sub-sets of relapsed or refractory B-cell NHL in the CAPITAL Phase II trialAdditionally, new data will demonstrate AZD4573, a highly selective and potent cyclin dependent kinase 9 inhibitor from AstraZeneca's cell death portfolio, effectively induces apoptosis in vivo in relapsed or refractory MCL xenograft models both alone and when combined with Calquence