ELEVATE-RR – first head-to-head trial of acalabrutinib versus ibrutinib in previously treated high risk chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Over the past decades, there has been a significant expansion of the treatment options for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) due to Brutons tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors, which changed approaches in CLL therapy. Ibrutinib was the first BTK inhibitor approved for CLL treatment, but adverse events such as atrial fibrillation and hypertension may limit the use of ibrutinib. In the first head-to-head trial of acalabrutinib and ibrutinib ELEVATE-RR, acalabrutinib was statistically superior to ibrutinib in all-grade atrial fibrillation/flutter (9.4% vs 16.0%; р=0.023). In all-grade arterial hypertension (9.4% vs 23.2%) and grade 3 (4.1% vs 9.1%) acalabrutinib was statistically superior to ibrutinib. Acalabrutinib demonstrated fewer discontinuations due to adverse events (14.7%) vs ibrutinib (21.3%). Based on ELEVATE-RR results acalabrutinib should be considered as a drug of choice among BTK inhibitors for CLL patients, including patients with cardiovascular diseases and risks of cardiovascular diseases.