JNJ's Imbruvica, AbbVie's Venclexta Combo Achieves Progression-Free Survival Of 78.4% Versus Gazyva-Chemo Cocktail In Leukemia Patients

A combination of Johnson & Johnson’s JNJ Imbruvica and AbbVie Inc ABBV - Roche Holding AG’s RHHBY Venclexta/Venclyxto (venetoclax) slashed the risk of cancer progression or death by 78.4% compared with a cocktail of Roche’s Gazyva and the chemotherapy chlorambucil in previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) patients.
The phase 3 GLOW trial data were shared at the European Hematology Association (EHA) annual meeting.
In the preliminary analysis of the GLOW trial, at three months after treatment ended, 51.9% of the Imbruvica-Venclexta combo patients had undetectable measurable residual disease (uMRD), stringent marker reflecting no signs of cancer in bone marrow, versus 17.1% for the control group.
The rates for peripheral blood were 54.7% and 39% for the two groups, respectively.
From the three-month point onward, 84.5% of uMRD patients maintained that deep remission in the blood to the 12-month assessment.
The complete response rate was also significantly higher with Imbruvica-Venclexta combo vs. Gazyva and chlorambucil (38.7% vs. 11.4%).
The overall response rate was not significantly different between both arms. Time to subsequent therapy was longer for the Imbruvica-Venclexta combo.
See the abstract here.
Price Action: JNJ shares closed at $164.96, ABBV closed at $115.42, and RHHBY closed at $47.56 on Friday.