Acalabrutinib monotherapy as a first-line treatment for CLL: 3 years follow-up of the real-world EPIC study: 3-year follow-up of the real-world EPIC study

Clinical trials indicate that acalabrutinib, a second-generation Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is safe and effective for treating patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), but real-world evidence on its clinical effectiveness is limited. This ongoing multicenter retrospective chart review included UK adults with previously untreated CLL who received acalabrutinib monotherapy as part of a UK-wide early access program. These patients received their first dose of acalabrutinib between 1 April 2020 and 1 April 2021. Data from 282 patients (male patients, n = 156 [55%]) collected from 29 sites across the United Kingdom revealed a median age of 73.9 years (interquartile range [IQR], 68.6-79.4) at acalabrutinib initiation (index date) and a median time of 3.0 years (IQR, 1.2-5.7; n = 281) from CLL diagnosis to treatment. The median follow-up was 48.9 months (IQR, 45.0-52.3). At the 3-year landmark, real-world progression-free survival was 82.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 78.2-87.1), and real-world overall survival was 84.3% (95% CI, 80.2-88.7). Additionally, 72.3% of patients (95% CI, 67.3-77.8) remained on acalabrutinib treatment. The most common reasons for acalabrutinib discontinuation were adverse events (AEs; 31/87 [36%]), death (16/87 [18%]), and disease progression (14/87 [16%]). Of the 270 patients with recorded information, 99 patients (37%) experienced ≥1 prespecified AE, of which the most frequent were upper respiratory tract infection (n = 21 patients [8%]), rash (n = 13 [5%]), and neutropenia (n = 12 [4%]). This study adds to a body of clinical trial and further postmarketing evidence demonstrating the effectiveness and safety of acalabrutinib within routine UK clinical practice.