On November 1, 2018 Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) reported that the randomised phase III CLL14 study, which evaluated fixed-duration Venclexta/Venclyxto (venetoclax) in combination with Gazyva/Gazyvaro (obinutuzumab) in people with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and co-existing medical conditions, met its primary endpoint and showed a statistically significant reduction in the risk of disease worsening or death (PFS; as assessed by investigator) compared to standard-of-care Gazyva/Gazyvaro plus chlorambucil (Press release, Hoffmann-La Roche, NOV 1, 2018, View Source [SID1234530512]). The results showed that no new safety signals or increase in known toxicities of Venclexta/Venclyxto or Gazyva/Gazyvaro were observed with the treatment combination.

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"People with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia continue to need more treatment options because some patients are unable to tolerate chemotherapy regimens due to their underlying health," said Sandra Horning, MD, Roche’s Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Product Development. "CLL14 is the first study to show superior progression-free survival for Venclexta/Venclyxto plus Gazyva/Gazyvaro compared to a standard-of-care regimen. We will work with health authorities to bring this potential chemotherapy-free treatment option to people who need it as quickly as possible."

Data from the CLL14 study will be submitted to global health authorities. Venclexta in combination with Rituxan (rituximab) has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of people with CLL or small lymphocytic lymphoma, with or without 17p deletion, who have received at least one prior therapy. Venclyxto in combination with MabThera (rituximab) has recently been approved in Europe for people with previously treated CLL, who have received at least one prior therapy, based on results from the randomised phase III MURANO study.

A robust clinical development programme for Venclexta/Venclyxto is ongoing in several types of blood cancer, including acute myeloid leukaemia and multiple myeloma. Gazyva/Gazyvaro continues to be investigated in combination with approved and investigational Roche and non-Roche molecules in CLL and follicular lymphoma.

Venclexta/Venclyxto (venetoclax) is being developed by AbbVie and Roche. It is jointly commercialised by AbbVie and Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, in the United States and commercialised by AbbVie outside of the United States.

About the CLL14 study
CLL14 (NCT02242942) is a randomised phase III study evaluating the combination of fixed-duration Venclexta/Venclyxto plus Gazyva/Gazyvaro compared to Gazyva/Gazyvaro plus chlorambucil in patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) with coexisting medical conditions. 432 patients with previously untreated CLL were randomly assigned to receive either Venclexta/Venclyxto plus Gazyva/Gazyvaro (Arm A) or Gazyva/Gazyvaro plus chlorambucil (Arm B). The primary endpoint of the study is investigator-assessed progression free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints include PFS assessed by independent review committee, best overall response, complete response, duration of response, overall survival, event-free survival, time to next CLL treatment, minimal residual disease status and safety. The CLL14 study is being conducted in cooperation with the German CLL Study Group (GCLLSG), headed by Michael Hallek, MD, University of Cologne.

About Venclexta/Venclyxto (venetoclax)
Venclexta/Venclyxto is a first-in-class targeted medicine designed to selectively bind and inhibit the B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) protein. In some blood cancers and other tumours, BCL-2 builds up and prevents cancer cells from dying or self-destructing, a process called apoptosis. Venclexta/Venclyxto blocks the BCL – 2 protein and works to restore the process of apoptosis.

Venclexta/Venclyxto is being developed by AbbVie and Roche. It is jointly commercialised by AbbVie and Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, in the United States and by AbbVie outside of the United States. Together, the companies are committed to research with Venclexta/Venclyxto, which is currently being studied in clinical trials across several types of blood and other cancers.

In the United States, Venclexta has been granted four Breakthrough Therapy Designations by the FDA: in combination with Rituxan for people with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL); as a monotherapy for people with relapsed or refractory CLL with 17p deletion; in combination with hypomethylating agents (azacitidine or decitabine) for people with untreated acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) ineligible for intensive chemotherapy; and in combination with low-dose cytarabine for people with untreated AML ineligible for intensive chemotherapy. A supplemental New Drug Application has been submitted to the FDA for Venclexta, in combination with a hypomethylating agent or in combination with low dose cytarabine, for the treatment of people with previously untreated AML who are ineligible for intensive chemotherapy.

Venclexta/Venclyxto is approved in more than 50 countries. Roche and AbbVie are currently working with regulatory agencies around the world to bring this medicine to additional eligible patients in need.

About Gazyva/Gazyvaro (obinutuzumab)
Gazyva/Gazyvaro is an engineered monoclonal antibody designed to bind to CD20, a protein expressed on certain B-cells (a type of white blood cell), but not on stem cells or plasma cells. Gazyva/Gazyvaro is designed to attack and destroy targeted B-cells both directly and together with the body’s immune system. Gazyva is marketed as Gazyvaro in the EU and Switzerland.

Gazyva/Gazyvaro is currently approved in more than 90 countries in combination with chlorambucil for people with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, in more than 80 countries in combination with bendamustine for people with certain types of previously treated follicular lymphoma and in more than 70 countries in combination with chemotherapy for previously untreated follicular lymphoma.

Additional combination studies investigating Gazyva/Gazyvaro with other approved or investigational medicines, including cancer immunotherapies and small molecule inhibitors, are underway across a range of blood cancers.

About the German CLL Study Group (GCLLSG)
Founded in 1996 and headed by Dr. Michael Hallek, the GCLLSG has been running various phase III, phase II and phase I trials in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) with the goal to provide optimal treatment to patients suffering from this disease. Among those were landmark trials like the CLL8 and the CLL11 trials which led to the current standard-of-care in CLL. For many years, GCLLSG has been aiming to improve not just the treatment of younger and physically fit patients, but also that of elderly and less fit patients. These patients are generally underrepresented in clinical trials although they constitute the majority of CLL patients treated by doctors in daily practice. The GCLLSG is an independent non-profit research organisation supported by the German Cancer Aid (Deutsche Krebshilfe). www.dcllsg.de