Compelling Calquence CLL data to provide basis for submissions

AstraZeneca (LSE: AZN) could be on course to gain another indication with Calquence (acalabrutinib), a Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor that already has accelerated US approval for mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).

The Anglo-Swedish pharma major has announced detailed results from the interim analysis of the Phase III ASCEND trial at the European Hematology Association (EHA) Annual Congress in Amsterdam, showing that Calquence significantly prolonged the time patients live without disease progression in relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Calquence was compared with the physician’s choice of rituximab, which is marketed by Roche (ROG: SIX) as Rituxan/MabThera, combined with idelalisib or bendamustine, in patients with relapsed or refractory CLL in the ASCEND study.