GAIA/CLL13 Trial Follow-Up Compares Venetoclax Combinations in CLL

Moritz Fürstenau, MD, of the University of Cologne, discusses his recent study on venetoclax combinations versus chemoimmunotherapy in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
Both the venetoclax plus obinutuzumab doublet and the venetoclax, obinutuzumab, and ibrutinib triplet were associated with longer progression-free survival compared with the chemoimmunotherapy and venetoclax plus rituximab arms.
While the triplet combination was more efficacious in high-risk patients, it was also associated with more toxicities, including infection, cardiac events, hypertension, and bruising.
“The study gave us the information we were looking for to use venetoclax and obinutuzumab in this rather fit population, because it’s safe and very efficacious,” Dr. Fürstenau said. “At the moment, we wouldn't recommend the triplet combination for this patient population.”