Dr. Woyach on the Safety of Acalabrutinib Versus Ibrutinib in CLL

Jennifer Woyach, MD, a hematologist-oncologist and an associate professor within the Department of Internal Medicine at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center–James, discusses the safety profile of acalabrutinib (Calquence) compared with ibrutinib (Imbruvica) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). 

The safety profile of acalabrutinib in CLL looks very promising, says Woyach. The rates of some of the toxicities that are associated with BTK inhibitors, such as atrial fibrillation, are relatively infrequent with acalabrutinib; however, this is probably seen a bit more with acalabrutinib than ibrutinib in the general population, notes Woyach.

Hypertension appears to be observed less with acalabrutinib, although it took several clinical trials, patients, and time to identify hypertension as a toxicity for ibrutinib, admits Woyach.

Some of the milder toxicities such as arthralgias and bruising appear less, as well, according to Woyach. Significant bleeding is also very rare with both agents, but it does not look like it is seen more with acalabrutinib compared with ibrutinib, concludes Woyach.