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Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) and pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) are common complications of CLL. The optimal treatment of steroid refractory AIHA/PRCA is not well established. We conducted a multicenter study of ibrutinib and rituximab in patients with relapsed/refractory to steroids AIHA/PRCA and underlying CLL. Protocol included induction (ibrutinib 420 mg/day and rituximab, 9 weekly and 3 monthly infusions) and maintenance phase with ibrutinib until progression or unacceptable toxicity. Fifty patients were recruited (44 – warm type AIHA, 2 – cold type AIHA, 4 – PRCA). After the induction phase 34 patients (74%) have achieved complete response, and 10 (21,7%) partial response. Median time to hemoglobin normalization was 85 days. With regards to CLL response 9 (19%) patients have achieved CR, 2 (4%) patients – stabilization and 39 (78%) – PR. The median follow-up was 37.56 months. In AIHA group 2 patients had a relapse. Among 4 patients with PRCA 1 patient did not respond, and 1 patient had a relapse after CR, 2 remained in CR. The most common adverse events were neutropenia (62%), infections (72%) and gastrointestinal complications (54%). In conclusion ibrutinib in combination with rituximab is an active second-line treatment option for patients with relapsed or refractory AIHA/PRCA and underlying CLL.

Relevance. COVID-19 pandemic currently has a significant negative impact on the treatment of patients with oncological pathology, including patients with classic Hodgkin lymphoma. Generalized data on publications on the impact of concomitant pathology on the severity of infection show a significant increase in the risk of death from infection in male patients, aged 60 years, with the presence of 3 concomitant diseases, among which particularly negative role is played by diseases of the cardiovascular system, diabetes, oncology, chronic lung disease, immunodeficiency conditions. Particularly dangerous is the development of COVID-19 infection in an interval of less than 14 days from the course of antitumor therapy. At the same time, patients with Hodgkin lymphoma require immediate treatment, often associated with toxic, immunosuppressive therapy, frequent visits to the clinic, hospitalizations. International communities have not yet developed clear guidelines for the management of patients with Hodgkins lymphoma. Taking into account the understanding that the circulation of coronoviral infection will continue in the population, the Advisory board on the Problems of Hodgkin Lymphoma Therapy in the COVID-19 Pandemic is highly relevant. Aim. To change and adapt current treatment approaches in the current epidemiological environment. Results. The main directions of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the treatment of patients with cancer pathology, including patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma, were determined, key problems in the treatment of LC during the COVID-19 pandemic were identified, and measures aimed at reducing the risk for patients were developed. Existing approaches to first-line, relapse/refracturing cHL therapy, including salvage therapy, and auto/allo SCT during the COVID-19 pandemic, have been adapted.

Ravulizumab (ALXN1210), a new complement C5 inhibitor, provides immediate, complete, and sustained C5 inhibition. This phase 3, open-label study assessed the noninferiority of ravulizumab to eculizumab in complement inhibitor–naive adults with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). Patients with lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) ≥1.5 times the upper limit of normal and at least 1 PNH symptom were randomized 1:1 to receive ravulizumab or eculizumab for 183 days (N = 246). Coprimary efficacy end points were proportion of patients remaining transfusion-free and LDH normalization. Secondary end points were percent change from baseline in LDH, change from baseline in Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT)–Fatigue score, proportion of patients with breakthrough hemolysis, stabilized hemoglobin, and change in serum free C5. Ravulizumab was noninferior to eculizumab for both coprimary and all key secondary end points (Pinf < .0001): transfusion avoidance (73.6% vs 66.1%; difference of 6.8% [95% confidence interval (CI), −4.66, 18.14]), LDH normalization (53.6% vs 49.4%; odds ratio, 1.19 [0.80, 1.77]), percent reduction in LDH (−76.8% vs −76.0%; difference [95% CI], −0.83% [−5.21, 3.56]), change in FACIT-Fatigue score (7.07 vs 6.40; difference [95% CI], 0.67 [−1.21, 2.55]), breakthrough hemolysis (4.0% vs 10.7%; difference [95% CI], −6.7% [−14.21, 0.18]), and stabilized hemoglobin (68.0% vs 64.5%; difference [95% CI], 2.9 [−8.80, 14.64]). The safety and tolerability of ravulizumab and eculizumab were similar; no meningococcal infections occurred. In conclusion, ravulizumab given every 8 weeks achieved noninferiority compared with eculizumab given every 2 weeks for all efficacy end points, with a similar safety profile. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02946463.

Background Therapy with irreversible Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor ibrutinib in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is associated with bleeding. Objectives To propose the predictive markers of such bleeding, as well as mechanisms responsible for decreased bleeding at later therapy stages. Patients/methods We investigate platelet functional activity in 50 CLL and 16 MCL patients on ibrutinib using flow cytometry and light transmission aggregometry. Results Prior to treatment, both patient groups had decreased platelet counts; impaired aggregation with adenosine diphosphate (ADP); and decreased binding of CD62P, PAC1, and annexin V upon stimulation. Bleeding in patients treated with ibrutinib was observed in 28 (56%) CLL patients, who had decreased aggregation with ADP and platelet count before therapy. Their platelet count on therapy did not change, platelet aggregation with ADP steadily improved, and aggregation with collagen first decreased and then increased in anticorrellation with bleeding. Bleeding in MCL was observed in 10 (62%) patients, who had decreased dense granule release before therapy. ADP and ristocetin induced platelet aggregation in ibrutinib-treated MCL patients increased on therapy, while collagen-induced aggregation evolved similarly to CLL patients. Conclusions Our results suggest that ibrutinib-dependent bleeding in CLL patients involves three mechanisms: decreased platelet count (the most important discriminator between bleeding and non-bleeding patients), impaired platelet response to ADP caused by CLL, and inhibition by ibrutinib. Initially, ibrutinib shifts the balance to bleeding, but then it is restored because of the improved response to ADP.

Background. Ibrutinib became available for patients (pts) with relapsed/refractory (R/R) mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) in Russia in the end of 2015 based on the results of phase 2 study by M. Wang from MD Anderson Cancer Center (NEJM 2013, Blood 2015). However, pts in routine clinical practice tend to differ significantly from the patients selected for clinical trials, which may lead to poorer results in off study treated patients. Aim. To assess efficacy and toxicity of ibrutinib monotherapy in pts with R/R MCL in routine community clinical practice outside of clinical trials. Materials & Methods. We analyzed the charts of all pts with R/R MCL who started ibrutinib from April 2016 to July 2019 in 7 Moscow's hospitals. The following criteria were used to initiate ibrutinib monotherapy: the age > 18 years, confirmed MCL diagnosis with nuclear hyperexpression of cyclin D1 and/or presence of the t(11;14)(q13;q32); symptomatic relapse or failure to achieve at least PR with a prior regimen. Poor physical status, pancytopenia grade 3-4, infectious complications (except for life-threatening conditions), blastoid variant and the number of previous treatment lines were not regarded as contraindications to ibrutinib therapy. Patients with CNS involvement were excluded from this analysis. Ibrutinib was administered once a day at a dose of 560 mg until progression or intolerable toxicity. Response to therapy was assessed every 2-3 months utilizing CT scan, PET/CT and bone marrow examination were required to confirm CR. Results. 54 pts with R/R MCL received ibrutinib monotherapy between April 2016 and July 2019. 26 pts (48%) were refractory to a prior therapy. The median age was 68 years (range 40-81); 69% of pts were men; ECOG > 2 in 22% of pts. 15 pts (28%) underwent a repeated biopsy before starting ibrutinib. 23 pts (43%) had an aggressive variant of MCL: either blastoid morphology (13/54 at diagnosis and 5/54 after repeated biopsy) or classical morphology with Ki-67>40% (4/54 at diagnosis and 1/54 after repeated biopsy). The median number of previous treatment lines was 2 (1-11). The response was evaluated in 53/54 pts. ORR was 81%, CR rate was 30% in the whole group. Pts with aggressive variants of MCL (group 1) had ORR of 65%, CR rate of 7%. In the group with classical morphology and Ki-67≤40% (group 2) ORR and CR rates were 93% and 47%. 2 pts with a response to therapy stopped ibrutinib early on their own accord, without signs of toxicity above gr.1. The median EFS for all pts was 394 days (95% CI: 261-526). In group 1 the median EFS was 173 days (95% CI: 112-234), in the group 2 the median EFS was 759 days (95% CI: 521-996, p The most common complications were myalgia and muscle cramps (60%, all gr.1-2), diarrhea (gr.1-2 in 58% and gr.3 in 4%); hemorrhagic complications (65%, all gr. 1-2); skin, nail toxicity and a rash (15%, all gr.1-2) and arrhythmia (9%). Infections were reported in 30% of pts (gr.3 in 6%). Skin/nails toxicity developed mainly after 6 months of ibrutinib intake. In 14 (26 %) pts ibrutinib treatment had to be adjusted (dose reduction or treatment interruption for 3-10 days) due to toxicity and planned surgeries. 4 pts (9%) required dose reduction from 560 to 420 mg. None of ibrutinib recipients had to completely discontinue ibrutinib therapy due to complications (with exception of 2 patients who stopped taking ibrutinib on their own). None of the patients received alloSCT. Conclusion. These data on the use of ibrutinib in actual clinical practice are comparable with the results of international multicenter studies (PCYC-1104, SPARK, and RAY). Favorable toxicity profile and rather short time to antitumor response allow for ibrutinib administration in cases of poor performance status due to disease, low blood count, and even infectious complications. Ibrutinib monotherapy results in the durable disease control in 93% of patients with non-blastoid MCL with the median EFS 25 months, but only 65% with blastoid type with the median EFS 6 months. However, some adverse effects are manifested not earlier than after 6-month treatment, which calls for continuous monitoring, especially when preparing for surgeries. Figure Disclosures Vorobyev: AstraZeneca: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Consultancy. Ptushkin:JSC GENERIUM: Research Funding; Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc:: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy; Roche: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy.

Introduction: Complement C5-inhibitor eculizumab is a current standard of care in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). Elizaria® is the first registered biosimilar of the reference medicinal product Soliris®. Purpose: To demonstrate Elizaria® comparative efficacy and safety vs. reference product Soliris® in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. Methods: 32 patients with PNH were stratified based on the previous eculizumab treatment status (eculizumab-naive patients/patients treated with eculizumab at a maintenance regimen before enrollment) and randomized to receive Elizaria® (n = 16) or Soliris® (n = 16). Eculizumab-naive patients with baseline LDH level ≥1.5 times the upper limit of normal started induction phase of four weekly infusion of the study medications at dose of 600 mg, with subsequent maintenance therapy at dose of 900 mg every two weeks. Previously treated patients started the study treatment at the maintenance dose. The total treatment duration was 26 weeks. Comparative evaluation of chronic hemolysis based on the area under the curve "LDH concentration-time" (LDH AUC) during the maintenance therapy period was the primary endpoint of the study. The main secondary efficacy parameters were hemoglobin dynamics, breakthrough hemolysis and transfusion dependence. PK profile as well as through eculizumab and membrane attack complex (MAC) concentration were also assessed during the treatment. Results: Thirty patients have completed the study without significant protocol deviations (16 patients in Elizaria® group and 14 patients in Soliris® group). The LDH AUC was highly variable between the patients but the means were not statistically differ between the treatment groups: 62,957.6 ± 46,066.5 U/L*day (95% CI [38,410.4; 87,504.7]) and 49,702.6 ± 26,182.1 U/L*day (95% CI [34,585.5; 64,819.7]) in Elizaria® and Soliris® groups respectively. Point estimation of the intergroup difference in LDH AUC of 13255,0 U/L*days (95% CI [-10492,9; 37002,8]) comprises 12,3% of the pre-specified non-inferiority margin of 150,635 U/L*days, that is not supposed clinically significant difference (Figure 1). The treatment groups were also comparable on all the secondary efficacy parameters (Table 1). The comparative PK parameters of eculizumab and MAC concentration have been demonstrated in the treatment groups in all studied time points. Thus, the median elimination half-life (T1/2) of eculizumab amounted to 187,7 h (IQR 165,7) in Elizaria® group and to 282,0 h (IQR 152,3) in Soliris® group (p = 0.236). The minimum concentration (Cmin) of eculizumab amounted to (64.89 ± 25.96) µg/mL in Elizaria® group and to (94.13 ± 58.76) µg/mL in Soliris® group (p = 0.065). The median residence time (MRT) of eculizumab amounted to 269,5 h (IQR 257.3) in Elizaria® group and to 393,1 h (IQR 240,9) in Soliris® group (p = 0.206). By the end of the study, the mean MAC values one hour after the study products infusion amounted to (170.41 ± 72.21) ng/mL and (214.08 ± 93.57) ng/mL in Elizaria® and Soliris® groups, respectively (Figure 2). Both Elizaria® and Soliris® demonstrated the similar safety profile. Thirteen adverse drug reactions (ADR) in 5 patients were reported in the study: 9 - in 3 Elizaria® patients, whereas 4 were reported in 2 Soliris® patients. ADRs were observed in the following system organ classes: Investigations (9.4%), Blood and lymphatic system disorders (6.3%), Infections and infestations (6.3%), Renal and urinary disorders (3.1%), General disorders and administration site conditions (3.1%), Metabolism and nutrition disorders (3.1%). No new cases of anti-drug antibody formation have been revealed during the study. Conclusion: Thus, the results of the clinical trial confirm that proposed biosimilar Elizaria® is comparable to the reference product Soliris® in term of efficacy, safety, immunogenicity and PK/PD parameters in the treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. Disclosures Kulagin: Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc:: Consultancy, Honoraria; JSC GENERIUM: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Ptushkin:Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc:: Consultancy, Research Funding; JSC GENERIUM: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy; Roche: Consultancy. Lukina:JSC GENERIUM: Research Funding; Sanofi Genzyme: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel Reimbursement, Research Funding; Shire: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel Reimbursement. Gapchenko:JSC GENERIUM: Employment. Markova:JSC GENERIUM: Employment. Zuev:JSC GENERIUM: Employment. Kudlay:JSC GENERIUM: Employment.

INTRODUCTION. Ibrutinib is an oral small-molecule drug that irreversibly inhibits Bruton's tyrosine kinase and thus suppresses proliferation of B cells. Ibrutinib therapy in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is associated with frequent bleeding complications that were reported to be more severe in CLL. This difference was suggested to be related to differential adenosine diphosphate (ADP) disruption by CD39, expressed by tumor cells. Here we investigate platelet functional activity in CLL and MCL patients before initiation of ibrutinib. MATERIALS. Fifty one adult patients with relapsed and refractory CLL and MCL and 20 healthy donors were included in the study. Platelet functional activity was characterized by flow cytometry before and after activation with SFLLRN plus collagen-related peptide. Levels of CD42b, CD61, CD62P, PAC1, annexin V binding, and mepacrine release were determined. Aggregation with collagen, ADP and ristocetin were measured. RESULTS. Among 36 CLL patients 25 (69%) were men, the median age was 66 (range, 31 to 83 years) and 23 (64%) had a refractory disease. In 34 previously treated patients the median number of prior treatments was 2 (range, 1 - 6). Two CLL patients with del (17p) received ibrutinib as a first line. In a group of MCL patients (n=15) there were 12 men (80%), the median age was 63 years (range, 49-79). Seven (54%) patients had a high MIPI score. The median number of previous chemotherapy lines in MCL patients was 1 (range, 1 - 6). Lymphocyte count before initiation of ibrutinib was significantly higher in CLL group (median 17,5 х 109/L range 0,48 - 189,7) compared to MCL group (median 1,75 х 109/L, range 0,35 - 6,59, p=0,037). Initial platelets count was also different being lower in CLL than in MCL patients (127 х 109/L (15 - 248) versus 186 х 109/L (63 - 311), p=0,005). Platelets of untreated patients with CLL had statistically significant impairments in their responses compared to those with MCL. Specifically, they had decreased integrin activation in response to stimulation (46±19% versus 73±18%; for healthy donors, 100±17%), and relative mepacrine release (2.9±0.9 versus 3.5±0.8; healthy, 4.0±0.7). P-selectin release was impaired milder (77±17% versus 92±14%; healthy, 100±10%), and procogulant platelet formation impairment was not statistically significant (8±6% versus 12±7%; healthy, 12±3%). In control experiments, addition of MeS-AMP and MRS2179, selective inhibitors of ADP receptors, had comparable effects on the healthy donor platelets. Aggregation in response to ADP was dramatically impaired in CLL compared with MCL (24±18% versus 42±16%), as well as that in response to collagen (47±23% versus 72±13%). Upon ibrutinib treatment, further decrease of PAC1 binding and procoagulant platelets formation almost to the level of resting platelets were observed; activation with SFLLRN alone produced a similar result with donor platelets. CONCLUSIONS. Patients with CLL and MCL have initially impaired response of platelets. The defects of platelet function in CLL is much greater suggesting a possible explanation of the different clinical severity. Disclosures Vorobyev: Janssen: Speakers Bureau. Ptushkin:Janssen: Speakers Bureau.