CAPTIVATE Study Shows an IMBRUVICA® (ibrutinib) Plus VENCLEXTA®/VENCLYXTO® (venetoclax) Chemotherapy-Free Combination Has Potential to Provide Remission After Fixed-Duration Treatment for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)

Rhea-AI Summary

AbbVie announced promising Phase 2 CAPTIVATE study results for its investigational combination of IMBRUVICA® and VENCLEXTA® to treat previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). The combination achieved a complete response (CR) rate of 56% among patients without del(17p), with a 24-month progression-free survival of 95% and overall survival of 98%. Undetectable minimal residual disease was observed in 77% of patients. Safety profiles aligned with known adverse effects, with no new signals identified.

Positive

• Complete response (CR) rate of 56% exceeds the 37% study assumption (P<0.0001).
• 24-month progression-free survival (PFS) at 95% and overall survival (OS) at 98%.
• Undetectable minimal residual disease (uMRD) achieved in 77% of patients in peripheral blood.
• Safety profile consistent with known adverse effects, with no new safety signals identified.

Negative

• Common grade 3/4 adverse effects included neutropenia (33%) and hypertension (6%).
• 4% of patients discontinued ibrutinib due to adverse effects.

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., June 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) today announced new data from the Phase 2 CAPTIVATE (PCYC-1142) study investigating IMBRUVICA^® (ibrutinib) in combination with VENCLEXTA^®/VENCLYXTO^® (venetoclax), an all-oral, once-daily, chemotherapy-free, fixed-duration investigational combination, for patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) during an oral presentation at the virtual 2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting (Abstract #7501). The ibrutinib and venetoclax cohort met its primary endpoint of complete response (CR) rate of 56% (95% CI 48-64) among patients without del(17p), 70 years old or younger and with 27.9 months of follow up. This rate was higher than the 37% minimum meaningful rate study assumption (P<0.0001). The CR rate was consistent across all patients in the study including high-risk CLL patient groups. Furthermore, 24-month progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 95% and 98%, respectively. 

"We are encouraged by these promising results, which indicate ibrutinib and venetoclax combined has the potential to serve as an important chemotherapy-free, fixed-duration treatment option for people living with CLL," said Dr. Paolo Ghia, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Medical Oncology at the Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele and CAPTIVATE steering committee member and investigator.

Ibrutinib plus venetoclax is an investigational fixed-duration combination. Patients received 3 cycles of ibrutinib lead-in followed by 12 cycles of ibrutinib + venetoclax (Ibr 420 mg/day PO; Ven ramp up to 400 mg/day PO). At 27.9 months median duration of follow-up in the fixed-duration cohort, complete response (CR) rate was 56% without del(17p), and CR, including complete response with incomplete marrow recovery (CRi), was 55% in the overall study population and was consistent across high-risk subgroups. Undetectable minimal residual disease (uMRD) was achieved in 77% of patients in peripheral blood and 60% of patients in bone marrow. The most common grade 3/4 adverse effects (AEs) were neutropenia (33%), hypertension (6%) and neutrophil count decreased (5%). AEs led to discontinuation of ibrutinib in 4% and venetoclax in 2% of patients. The safety profile of the combination was generally consistent with known AEs for each agent and no new safety signals were identified.

"Combining our novel therapies to deliver a new potential treatment is an example of AbbVie's innovative approach to identify options for difficult-to-treat blood cancers, like CLL," said Mohamed Zaki, M.D., Ph.D., vice president and global head of oncology development, AbbVie. "We are proud to be leading in the development of this combination to continue raising the standards of care for the blood cancer community."

This data builds on previously reported results from the Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) cohort where undetectable uMRD was achieved in over two-thirds of patients with 12 cycles of ibrutinib plus venetoclax, and 30-month PFS rates were ≥95% irrespective of subsequent randomized treatment (Wierda, ASH 2020).

CAPTIVATE data will also be presented at the European Hematology Association's (EHA) congress taking place from June 9-17, 2021. Additionally, there are other ongoing company-sponsored and investigator-initiated trials exploring the potential of ibrutinib and venetoclax in combination for CLL treatment, including the Phase 3 GLOW study. Results from the ongoing GLOW study, assessing the ibrutinib plus venetoclax combination in comparison to chlorambucil plus obinutuzumab for first-line treatment of patients with CLL or SLL (NCT03462719), will be presented at the upcoming EHA congress.

About CLL
CLL is one of the two most common forms of leukemia in adults and is a type of cancer that can develop from cells in the bone marrow that later mature into certain white blood cells (called lymphocytes).¹ While these cancer cells start in the bone marrow, they later spread into the blood. There are approximately 195,129 people with CLL living in the United States with more than 21,000 newly diagnosed patients in 2021.^2,3 CLL is predominately a disease of the elderly, with a median age at diagnosis of 70 years and is more common among men than women.⁴

About the CAPTIVATE Study
The CAPTIVATE study fixed-duration cohort evaluated 159 patients between the ages of 18 and 70 years old with CLL/SLL. Patients received 3 cycles of ibrutinib lead-in followed by 12 cycles of ibrutinib + venetoclax (Ibr 420 mg/day PO; Ven ramp up to 400 mg/day PO). High-risk features included del(17p)/TP53 mutation, 17%; del(11q), 18%; complex karyotype, 19%; and unmutated IGHV, 56%. 147 (92%) and 149 (94%) patients completed planned treatment with ibrutinib and venetoclax respectively. Median time on study was 27.9 month (range, 0.8–33.2). FD cohort primary endpoint was CR rate, including CR with incomplete marrow recovery (CRi) in patients without del(17p). Key secondary endpoints were objective response rate (ORR), duration of response, uMRD rate (<10-4 by 8-color flow cytometry), PFS, OS, tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) risk category reduction based on tumor burden shifted to medium- or low-risk after ibrutinib lead-in therapy and AEs.

The CAPTIVATE study MRD cohort evaluated 164 patients between the ages of 18 and 70 years old with previously untreated CLL/SLL. Patients received 3 cycles of ibrutinib lead-in followed by 12 cycles of ibrutinib + venetoclax (Ibr 420 mg/day PO; Ven ramp-up to 400 mg/day PO). Patients with confirmed uMRD (defined as uMRD serially over ≥3 cycles, and in both PB and BM) after 12 cycles of ibrutinib + venetoclax were randomized 1:1 to receive double-blind treatment with placebo or ibrutinib during a 13^th cycle of ibrutinib and venetoclax combined. Patients who did not meet the definition of confirmed uMRD were randomized 1:1 to receive open-label treatment with ibrutinib or continued ibrutinib + venetoclax. Primary endpoint was 1-year DFS rate in the confirmed uMRD patients randomized to placebo vs ibrutinib; DFS was defined as survival without progression or MRD relapse (which was defined as an MRD level of 10-2). Key secondary endpoints were rates of uMRD (<10-4 by 8-color flow cytometry), response per iwCLL, adverse events (AEs), as well as progression-free survival (PFS). The depth of response achieved with this regimen is reflected in the 30-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate of ~95% across all treated patients, including the subset receiving placebo after the fixed-duration treatment. The safety profile of the combination was generally consistent with known adverse events for ibrutinib and venetoclax individually and no new safety signals emerged.

About IMBRUVICA ^®  (Ibrutinib)
IMBRUVICA (ibrutinib) is a once-daily, first-in-class BTK inhibitor that is administered orally, and is jointly developed and commercialized by Pharmacyclics, LLC, an AbbVie Company, and Janssen Biotech, Inc. (Janssen). The BTK protein sends important signals that tell B cells to mature and produce antibodies. BTK signaling is needed by specific cancer cells to multiply and spread.^5,6 By blocking BTK, IMBRUVICA may help move abnormal B cells out of their nourishing environments in the lymph nodes, bone marrow, and other organs.⁷

Since its launch in 2013, IMBRUVICA has received 11 FDA approvals across six disease areas: chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with or without 17p deletion (del17p); small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) with or without del17p; Waldenström macroglobulinemia; previously-treated patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL)*; previously-treated patients with marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) who require systemic therapy and have received at least one prior anti-CD20-based therapy* – and previously-treated patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) after failure of one or more lines of systemic therapy.⁸

IMBRUVICA is now approved in more than 100 countries and has been used to treat more than 230,000 patients worldwide across its approved indications. IMBRUVICA is the only FDA-approved medicine in WM and cGVHD. IMBRUVICA has been granted four Breakthrough Therapy Designations from the U.S. FDA. This designation is intended to expedite the development and review of a potential new drug for serious or life-threatening diseases. IMBRUVICA was one of the first medicines to receive FDA approval via the Breakthrough Therapy Designation pathway.

Since 2019, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network^® (NCCN^®), a not-for-profit alliance of 28 leading cancer centers devoted to patient care, research, and education, recommends ibrutinib (IMBRUVICA^®) as a preferred regimen for the initial treatment of CLL/SLL and has Category 1 treatment status for treatment-naïve patients without deletion 17p. In January 2020, the NCCN Guidelines^® were updated to elevate IMBRUVICA with or without rituximab from other recommended regimens to a preferred regimen for the treatment of relapsed/refractory MCL, regardless of duration of response to prior chemoimmunotherapy. As of September 2020, the NCCN guidelines were updated to reflect IMBRUVICA with or without rituximab as the only Category 1 preferred regimen for both untreated and previously treated WM patients.

IMBRUVICA^® is being studied alone and in combination with other treatments in several blood and solid tumor cancers and other serious illnesses. IMBRUVICA is the most comprehensively studied BTK inhibitor, with more than 150 ongoing clinical trials. There are approximately 30 ongoing company-sponsored trials, 14 of which are in Phase 3, and more than 100 investigator-sponsored trials and external collaborations that are active around the world. For more information, visit www.IMBRUVICA.com 

*Accelerated approval was granted for the MCL and MZL indications based on overall response rate. Continued approval for MCL and MZL may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.

Important Side Effect Information ⁸  Before taking IMBRUVICA^®, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you: 

• have had recent surgery or plan to have surgery. Your healthcare provider may stop IMBRUVICA^® for any planned medical, surgical, or dental procedure.
• have bleeding problems.
• have or had heart rhythm problems, smoke, or have a medical condition that increases your risk of heart disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes.
• have an infection.
• have liver problems.
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. IMBRUVICA^® can harm your unborn baby. If you are able to become pregnant, your healthcare provider will do a pregnancy test before starting treatment with IMBRUVICA^®. Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment with IMBRUVICA^®.
• Females who are able to become pregnant should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment with IMBRUVICA^® and for 1 month after the last dose. 
• Males with female partners who are able to become pregnant should use effective birth control, such as condoms, during treatment with IMBRUVICA^® and for 1 month after the last dose. 
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed during treatment with IMBRUVICA^® and for 1 week after the last dose. 

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Taking IMBRUVICA^® with certain other medicines may affect how IMBRUVICA^® works and can cause side effects. 
How should I take IMBRUVICA^®? 

• Take IMBRUVICA^®exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it.
• Take IMBRUVICA^® 1 time a day.
• Swallow IMBRUVICA^® capsules or tablets whole with a glass of water.
• Do not open, break or chew IMBRUVICA^®capsules.
• Do not cut, crush or chew IMBRUVICA^®tablets.
• Take IMBRUVICA^®at about the same time each day.
• If you miss a dose of IMBRUVICA^® take it as soon as you remember on the same day. Take your next dose of IMBRUVICA^® at your regular time on the next day. Do not take extra doses of IMBRUVICA^® to make up for a missed dose.
• If you take too much IMBRUVICA^® call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.

What should I avoid while taking IMBRUVICA^®? 

• You should not drink grapefruit juice, eat grapefruit, or eat Seville oranges (often used in marmalades) during treatment with IMBRUVICA^®. These products may increase the amount of IMBRUVICA^® in your blood. 

What are the possible side effects of IMBRUVICA^®? 
IMBRUVICA^® may cause serious side effects, including: 

• Bleeding problems (hemorrhage) are common during treatment with IMBRUVICA^®, and can also be serious and may lead to death. Your risk of bleeding may increase if you are also taking a blood thinner medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any signs of bleeding, including: blood in your stools or black stools (looks like tar), pink or brown urine, unexpected bleeding, or bleeding that is severe or that you cannot control, vomit blood or vomit looks like coffee grounds, cough up blood or blood clots, increased bruising, dizziness, weakness, confusion, change in your speech, or a headache that lasts a long time or severe headache. 
• Infections can happen during treatment with IMBRUVICA^®. These infections can be serious and may lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have fever, chills, weakness, confusion, or other signs or symptoms of an infection during treatment with IMBRUVICA^®.
• Decrease in blood cell counts. Decreased blood counts (white blood cells, platelets, and red blood cells) are common with IMBRUVICA^®, but can also be severe. Your healthcare provider should do monthly blood tests to check your blood counts.
• Heart problems. Serious heart rhythm problems (ventricular arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation, and atrial flutter), heart failure, and death have happened in people treated with IMBRUVICA^®, especially in people who have an increased risk for heart disease, have an infection, or who have had heart rhythm problems in the past. Tell your healthcare provider if you get any symptoms of heart problems, such as feeling as if your heart is beating fast and irregular, lightheadedness, dizziness, shortness of breath, swelling of the feet, ankles, or legs, chest discomfort, or you faint. If you develop any of these symptoms, your healthcare provider may do a test to check your heart (ECG) and may change your IMBRUVICA^® dose.
• High blood pressure (hypertension). New or worsening high blood pressure has happened in people treated with IMBRUVICA^®. Your healthcare provider may start you on blood pressure medicine or change current medicines to treat your blood pressure.
• Second primary cancers. New cancers have happened during treatment with IMBRUVICA^®, including cancers of the skin or other organs.
• Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS). TLS is caused by the fast breakdown of cancer cells. TLS can cause kidney failure and the need for dialysis treatment, abnormal heart rhythm, seizure, and sometimes death. Your healthcare provider may do blood tests to check you for TLS.

The most common side effects of IMBRUVICA^® in adults with B-cell malignancies (MCL, CLL/SLL, WM and MZL) include: 

• diarrhea
• tiredness
• muscle and bone pain
• rash
• bruising

The most common side effects of IMBRUVICA^® in adults with cGVHD include: 

• tiredness
• bruising
• diarrhea
• mouth sores (stomatitis)
• muscle spasms
• nausea
• pneumonia

Diarrhea is a common side effect in people who take IMBRUVICA^®. Drink plenty of fluids during treatment with IMBRUVICA^® to help reduce your risk of losing too much fluid (dehydration) due to diarrhea. Tell your healthcare provider if you have diarrhea that does not go away. 
These are not all the possible side effects of IMBRUVICA^®. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. 

General information about the safe and effective use of IMBRUVICA^®  
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Information leaflet. Do not use IMBRUVICA^® for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give IMBRUVICA^® to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them. You can ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for information about IMBRUVICA^® that is written for health professionals. 

Please click here for full Prescribing Information.

About VENCLEXTA^®/VENCLYXTO^® (venetoclax)
VENCLEXTA^®/VENCLYXTO^® (venetoclax) is a first-in-class medicine that selectively binds and inhibits the B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) protein. In some blood cancers, BCL-2 prevents cancer cells from undergoing their natural death or self-destruction process, called apoptosis. VENCLXEXTA/VENCLYXTO targets the BCL-2 protein and works to help restore the process of apoptosis.
VENCLEXTA/VENCLYXTO is being developed by AbbVie and Roche. It is jointly commercialized by AbbVie and Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, in the U.S. and by AbbVie outside of the U.S. Together, the companies are committed to BCL-2 research and to studying venetoclax in clinical trials across several blood cancers. Venetoclax is approved in more than 80 countries, including the U.S.

Important Safety Information⁹
What is the most important information I should know about VENCLEXTA? 
VENCLEXTA can cause serious side effects, including: 
Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS). TLS is caused by the fast breakdown of cancer cells. TLS can cause kidney failure, the need for dialysis treatment, and may lead to death. Your healthcare provider will do tests to check your risk of getting TLS before you start taking VENCLEXTA. You will receive other medicines before starting and during treatment with VENCLEXTA to help reduce your risk of TLS. You may also need to receive intravenous (IV) fluids into your vein. Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check for TLS when you first start treatment and during treatment with VENCLEXTA. It is important to keep your appointments for blood tests. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any symptoms of TLS during treatment with VENCLEXTA, including fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, confusion, shortness of breath, seizures, irregular heartbeat, dark or cloudy urine, unusual tiredness, or muscle or joint pain. 

Drink plenty of water during treatment with VENCLEXTA to help reduce your risk of getting TLS. 
Drink 6 to 8 glasses (about 56 ounces total) of water each day, starting 2 days before your first dose, on the day of your first dose of VENCLEXTA, and each time your dose is increased. 

Your healthcare provider may delay, decrease your dose, or stop treatment with VENCLEXTA if you have side effects. When restarting VENCLEXTA after stopping for 1 week or longer, your healthcare provider may again check for your risk of TLS and change your dose. 

Who should not take VENCLEXTA? 
Certain medicines must not be taken when you first start taking VENCLEXTA and while your dose is being slowly increased because of the risk of increased TLS. 

• Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. VENCLEXTA and other medicines may affect each other causing serious side effects.
• Do not start new medicines during treatment with VENCLEXTA without first talking with your healthcare provider.

Before taking VENCLEXTA, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you: 

• have kidney or liver problems.
• have problems with your body salts or electrolytes, such as potassium, phosphorus, or calcium.
• have a history of high uric acid levels in your blood or gout.
• are scheduled to receive a vaccine. You should not receive a "live vaccine" before, during, or after treatment with VENCLEXTA, until your healthcare provider tells you it is okay. If you are not sure about the type of immunization or vaccine, ask your healthcare provider. These vaccines may not be safe or may not work as well during treatment with VENCLEXTA.
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. VENCLEXTA may harm your unborn baby. If you are able to become pregnant, your healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with VENCLEXTA, and you should use effective birth control during treatment and for at least 30 days after the last dose of VENCLEXTA. If you become pregnant or think you are pregnant, tell your healthcare provider right away.
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if VENCLEXTA passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment with VENCLEXTA and for 1 week after the last dose.

What should I avoid while taking VENCLEXTA? 
You should not drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit, Seville oranges (often used in marmalades), or starfruit while you are taking VENCLEXTA. These products may increase the amount of VENCLEXTA in your blood. 

What are the possible side effects of VENCLEXTA? 
VENCLEXTA can cause serious side effects, including: 

• Low white blood cell counts (neutropenia). Low white blood cell counts are common with VENCLEXTA, but can also be severe. Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check your blood counts during treatment with VENCLEXTA and may pause dosing.
• Infections. Death and serious infections such as pneumonia and blood infection (sepsis) have happened during treatment with VENCLEXTA. Your healthcare provider will closely monitor and treat you right away if you have a fever or any signs of infection during treatment with VENCLEXTA.

Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have a fever or any signs of an infection during treatment with VENCLEXTA. 

The most common side effects of VENCLEXTA when used in combination with obinutuzumab or rituximab or alone in people with CLL or SLL include low white blood cell counts; low platelet counts; low red blood cell counts; diarrhea; nausea; upper respiratory tract infection; cough; muscle and joint pain; tiredness; and swelling of your arms, legs, hands, and feet. 

The most common side effects of VENCLEXTA in combination with azacitidine or decitabine or low-dose cytarabine in people with AML include nausea; diarrhea; low platelet count; constipation; low white blood cell count; fever with low white blood cell count; tiredness; vomiting; swelling of arms, legs, hands, or feet; fever; infection in lungs; shortness of breath; bleeding; low red blood cell count; rash; stomach (abdominal) pain; infection in your blood; muscle and joint pain; dizziness; cough; sore throat; and low blood pressure. 

VENCLEXTA may cause fertility problems in males. This may affect your ability to father a child. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have concerns about fertility.  

These are not all the possible side effects of VENCLEXTA. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. 

You are encouraged to report side effects of prescription drug to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. 

If you cannot afford your medication, contact genentech-access.com/patient/brands/venclexta for assistance. 

The full U.S. prescribing information, including Medication Guide, for VENCLEXTA^® can be found  here .  

Indication and Important VENCLYXTO^® (venetoclax) EU Safety Information¹⁰
Indication 
VENCLYXTO^® in combination with obinutuzumab is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). 

VENCLYXTO^® in combination with rituximab is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with CLL who have received at least one prior therapy. 

VENCLYXTO^® monotherapy is indicated for the treatment of CLL: 

• In the presence of 17p deletion or TP53 mutation in adult patients who are unsuitable for or have failed a B-cell receptor pathway inhibitor, or
• In the absence of 17p deletion or TP53 mutation in adult patients who have failed both chemoimmunotherapy and a B-cell receptor pathway inhibitor. 

Contraindications 
Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients is contraindicated.  Concomitant use of strong CYP3A inhibitors at initiation and during the dose-titration phase due to increased risk for tumor lysis syndrome (TLS). Concomitant use of preparations containing St. John's wort as VENCLYXTO^® efficacy may be reduced. 

Special Warnings & Precautions for Use 
TLS, including fatal events, has occurred in patients with previously treated CLL with high tumour burden when treated with VENCLYXTO^®. VENCLYXTO^® poses a risk for TLS in the initial 5-week dose-titration phase. Changes in electrolytes consistent with TLS that require prompt management can occur as early as 6 to 8 hours following the first dose of VENCLYXTO^® and at each dose increase. Patients should be assessed for risk and should receive appropriate prophylaxis, monitoring, and management for TLS. 

Neutropenia (grade 3 or 4) has been reported and complete blood counts should be monitored throughout the treatment period.  

Serious infections including sepsis with fatal outcome have been reported. Monitoring of any signs and symptoms of infection is required.  Suspected infections should receive prompt treatment including antimicrobials and dose interruption or reduction as appropriate.   

Live vaccines should not be administered during treatment or thereafter until B-cell recovery. 

Drug Interactions 
CYP3A inhibitors may increase VENCLYXTO^® plasma concentrations. At initiation and dose-titration phase: Strong CYP3A inhibitors are contraindicated due to increased risk for TLS and moderate CYP3A inhibitors should be avoided. If moderate CYP3A inhibitors must be used, physicians should refer to the SmPC for dose adjustment recommendations. At steady daily dose:  moderate or strong CYP3A inhibitors must be used, physicians should refer to the VENCLYXTO^® summary of product characteristics (SmPC) for dose adjustment recommendations. 

Avoid concomitant use of P-gp and BCRP inhibitors at initiation and during the dose titration phase. 

CYP3A4 inducers may decrease VENCLYXTO^® plasma concentrations. Avoid coadministration with strong or moderate CYP3A inducers. These agents may decrease venetoclax plasma concentrations.  

Co-administration of bile acid sequestrants with VENCLYXTO^® is not recommended as this may reduce the absorption of VENCLYXTO^®. 

Adverse Reactions 
The most commonly occurring adverse reactions (>=20%) of any grade in patients receiving venetoclax in the combination studies with obinutuzumab or rituximab were neutropenia, diarrhoea, and upper respiratory tract infection.  In the monotherapy studies, the most common adverse reactions were neutropenia/neutrophil count decreased, diarrhoea, nausea, anaemia, fatigue, and upper respiratory tract infection. 

The most frequently occurring serious adverse reactions (>=2%) in patients receiving venetoclax in combination with obinutuzumab or rituximab were pneumonia, sepsis, febrile neutropenia, and TLS.  In the monotherapy studies, the most frequently reported serious adverse reactions (>=2%) were pneumonia and febrile neutropenia. 

Discontinuations due to adverse reactions occurred in 16% of patients treated with venetoclax in combination with obinutuzumab or rituximab in the CLL14 and Murano studies respectively.  In the monotherapy studies with venetoclax, 11% of patients discontinued due to adverse reactions.  

Dosage reductions due to adverse reactions occurred in 21% of patients treated with the combination of venetoclax and obinutuzumab in CLL14 and in 15% of patients treated with the combination of venetoclax and in Murano and in 14% of patients treated with venetoclax in the monotherapy studies.    The most common adverse reaction that led to dose interruptions was neutropenia.  

Specific Populations 
Patients with reduced renal function (CrCl <80 mL/min) may require more intensive prophylaxis and monitoring to reduce the risk of TLS.  Safety in patients with severe renal impairment (CrCl <30 mL/min) or on dialysis has not been established, and a recommended dose for these patients has not been determined. 

For patients with severe (Child-Pugh C) hepatic impairment, a dose reduction of at least 50% throughout treatment is recommended. 

VENCLYXTO^® may cause embryo-fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise nursing women to discontinue breastfeeding during treatment. 
This is not a complete summary of all safety information. See VENCLYXTO^® full summary of product characteristics (SmPC) at https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/venclyxto-epar-product-information_en.pdf. Globally, prescribing information varies; refer to the individual country product label for complete information. 

About AbbVie in Oncology
At AbbVie, we are committed to transforming standards of care for multiple blood cancers while advancing a dynamic pipeline of investigational therapies across a range of cancer types. Our dedicated and experienced team joins forces with innovative partners to accelerate the delivery of potentially breakthrough medicines. We are evaluating more than 20 investigational medicines in over 300 clinical trials across some of the world's most widespread and debilitating cancers. As we work to have a remarkable impact on people's lives, we are committed to exploring solutions to help patients obtain access to our cancer medicines. For more information, please visit http://www.abbvie.com/oncology.

About AbbVie
AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas: immunology, oncology, neuroscience, eye care, virology, women's health and gastroenterology, in addition to products and services across its Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements
Some statements in this news release are, or may be considered, forward-looking statements for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "project" and similar expressions, among others, generally identify forward-looking statements. AbbVie cautions that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, failure to realize the expected benefits from AbbVie's acquisition of Allergan plc ("Allergan"), failure to promptly and effectively integrate Allergan's businesses, competition from other products, challenges to intellectual property, difficulties inherent in the research and development process, adverse litigation or government action, changes to laws and regulations applicable to our industry and the impact of public health outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics, such as COVID-19. Additional information about the economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors that may affect AbbVie's operations is set forth in Item 1A, "Risk Factors," of AbbVie's 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as updated by its subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. AbbVie undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements as a result of subsequent events or developments, except as required by law.

References:

¹ American Society of Hematology. Leukemia. http://www.hematology.org/Patients/Cancers/Leukemia.aspx Accessed May 2021.
² IMS Database [Data on File].
³ National Cancer Institute. Cancer Stat Facts: Leukemia - Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/clyl.html. Accessed May 2021.
⁴ Shanafelt, et al. Age at Diagnosis and the Utility of Prognostic Testing in Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). Cancer. 2010; 116(20): 4777–4787.
⁵ Burger JA et al. Leukemia. 2020;34:787-798.
⁶ Byrd JC et al. N Engl J Med. 2014;371(3):213-223.
⁵ Genetics Home Reference. Isolated growth hormone deficiency.  http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/isolated-growth-hormone-deficiency. Accessed November 2020.
⁶ Turetsky, et al. Single cell imaging of Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase using an irreversible inhibitor. Scientific Reports. volume 4, Article number: 4782 (2014)
⁷ de Rooij MF, Kuil A, Geest CR, et al. The clinically active BTK inhibitor PCI-32765 targets B-cell receptor- and chemokine-controlled adhesion and migration in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood. 2012;119(11):2590-2594.
⁸ IMBRUVICA U.S. Prescribing Information, April 2020.
⁹ VENCLEXTA (venetoclax) [Package Insert]. North Chicago, IL.: AbbVie Inc.
¹⁰ Summary of Product Characteristics for VENCLYXTO (venetoclax). Ludwigshafen, Germany: AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG.

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/captivate-study-shows-an-imbruvica-ibrutinib-plus-venclextavenclyxto-venetoclax-chemotherapy-free-combination-has-potential-to-provide-remission-after-fixed-duration-treatment-for-chronic-lymphocytic-leukemia-cll-301306442.html

SOURCE AbbVie

FAQ

What were the results of AbbVie's CAPTIVATE study on IMBRUVICA® and VENCLEXTA®?

The CAPTIVATE study reported a complete response (CR) rate of 56%, with a 24-month progression-free survival of 95% and overall survival of 98%.

What does the CAPTIVATE study indicate for CLL treatment?

The CAPTIVATE study indicates that the combination of IMBRUVICA® and VENCLEXTA® may serve as an effective chemotherapy-free treatment option for CLL.

When were the CAPTIVATE study results presented?

The CAPTIVATE study results were presented at the virtual 2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.

What is the safety profile of the IMBRUVICA® and VENCLEXTA® combination?

The safety profile is consistent with known adverse effects for each agent, and no new safety signals were identified.

What is the complete response rate for high-risk CLL patients in the CAPTIVATE study?

The complete response rate was 56%, which was consistent across high-risk CLL patient groups.