Ibrutinib use, treatment duration, and concomitant medications in Australian patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

Chemo-immunotherapy and the advent of small molecule inhibitors, including the Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, ibrutinib,1 have revolutionised the therapy of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). In the original and pivotal RESONATE study, single agent ibrutinib was compared to ofatumumab in patients with relapsed/refractory CLL (R/R CLL), including those with high-risk prognostic factors, and demonstrated superior progression free survival (PFS), overall survival and overall response rate.2

It is recognised that clinical trial populations are highly selected and may not reflect those patients seen in the “real-world” clinical practice where patients are likely to be older and have more comorbidities. Currently, there is limited data with the use of ibrutinib in the general community, both in the Australian context, and from nationally representative datasets...