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Calquence approved in the EU for CLL
Calquence approved in the EU for CLL.
About this update from Astrazeneca Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n \n \n \n RNS Number : 6388E\n AstraZeneca PLC\n 09 November 2020\n \n \n \n 9 November 2020 07:00 GMT\n \n \n \n Calquence\n \n \n approved in the EU for the\n \n \n \n treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Calquence demonstrated superior progression-free survival and favourable tolerability in both previously untreated and relapsed or refractory patients\n \n \n \n \n AstraZeneca's Calquence (acalabrutinib), a next-generation selective Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, has been approved in the European Union (EU) for the treatment of adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), the most common type of leukaemia in adults.\n \n \n \n The approval by the European Commission was based on positive results from two Phase III clinical trials, ELEVATE-TN in patients with previously untreated CLL and ASCEND in patients with relapsed or refractory CLL.1,2 This follows a recommendation for approval by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the European Medicines Agency in July 2020.\n \n \n \n \n Paolo Ghia, MD, Director, Strategic Research Program on CLL, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele in Milan, and investigator of the ASCEND Phase III trial, said: \"One of our biggest hurdles in treating chronic lymphocytic leukaemia is finding tolerable treatment options that manage the disease long term, which typically impacts older patients with comorbidities. Today's news marks great progress for patients in Europe, as the Phase III clinical trials for Calquence showed a significant improvement in comparison with current standard treatments.\"\n \n \n \n \n Dave Fredrickson, Executive Vice President, Oncology Business Unit, said: \"This approval represents a key development for patients in Europe who until now have had limited chemotherapy-free treatment options. As our first European approval in blood cancers, Calquence provides a new tolerable treatment option with uncompromised efficacy and the potential to positively impact the quality of life for thousands of patients living with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.\n \"\n \n \n \n \n In the ELEVATE-TN Phase III trial, Calquence combined with obinutuzumab and as monotherapy reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 90% and 80%, respectively, compared with standard chemo...