Comparing duvelisib and ofatumumab in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

This study aimed to compare the safety and effectiveness of duvelisib (Copiktra) and ofatumumab (Arzerra) in patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

This study concluded that duvelisib was an effective treatment option for these patients.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common leukemia in adults. It involves abnormal immune cells in the bone marrow. It is commonly treated with chemotherapy and targeted therapy. However, some patients do not respond to these treatments (refractory) or relapse (cancer returns). Ofatumumab is a targeted therapy that works by targeting and eliminating cancer cells. It is a potentially effective treatment for patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) CLL. 

Duvelisib is a newer treatment that blocks the survival of cancer cells. It has shown promising outcomes in patients with CLL. The safety and effectiveness of duvelisib compared to ofatumumab remain under investigation.

This study involved 319 patients who had R/R CLL and who had not responded to at least two other treatments. 160 patients received oral duvelisib and 159 patients received intravenous ofatumumab. Patients were followed-up for an average of 22.4 months.

Progression-free survival (the time during and after treatment that the disease does not get worse) was 13.3 months for the duvelisib group and 9.9 months for the ofatumumab group. The overall response rate (the number of patients who have a reduction in tumor size) for the duvelisib group was 73.8% and 45.3% for the ofatumumab group.

The probability of the disease not getting worse after 1 year was 60% for duvelisib-treated patients and 39% for those in the ofatumumab group.

99% of patients treated with duvelisib and 93% treated with ofatumumab reported side effects. The most common side effects experienced by the duvelisib group were diarrhea, neutropenia (low level of white blood cells), fever, nausea, anemia (low level of red blood cells) and cough. The most common side effects experienced by the ofatumumab group were neutropenia and infusion reactions (redness, swelling, and pain at the site of injection).

This study concluded that duvelisib is a potentially effective treatment option for patients with R/R CLL.

Duvelisib was recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of patients with R/R CLL and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) after at least two prior therapies.

Consult your physician about duvelisib.