The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended acalabrutinib (Calquence) in combination with bendamustine and rituximab for untreated adults not eligible for stem cell transplants diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma. Additionally, the agency also recommended acalabrutinib in combination with venetoclax, without obinutuzumab in newly diagnosed chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
The draft guidance is set to benefit hundreds of patients. Ruth Lester, a patient representative from Lymphoma Action who is living with mantle cell lymphoma, was quoted in the NICE press release as saying:
“It’s very encouraging to hear that a new and better tolerated treatment option has been recommended which should mean some MCL patients can enjoy a longer time with a better quality of life,”
Data from the phase 3 ECHO trial showed that adding acalabrutinib to standard of care lengthened progression-free survival in MCL. For CLL, evidence from the AMPLIFY trial showed that combining acalabrutinib with venetoclax improved survival outcomes, according to a release from the agency.
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