Zanubrutinib in lymphoproliferative disorders: a comprehensive review

Abstract

The availability of Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors has brought about a paradigm shift in the treatment of patients with B-cell lymphomas and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. BTK was clinically validated as a target by the efficacy of the first-in-class inhibitor ibrutinib. The extended survival conferred by BTK inhibitors has brought long-term tolerability to the foreground. To minimize toxicities thought to be attributable to off-target kinase inhibition, a next generation of BTK inhibitors with greater selectivity was developed. In the United States, zanubrutinib, a next-generation BTK inhibitor, has been approved for treating adults with mantle cell lymphoma who have received at least one prior therapy, for adults with Waldenström macroglobulinemia, and for adults with relapsed or refractory marginal zone lymphoma who have received at least one anti-CD20–based therapy. Because few head-to-head comparative trials of BTK inhibitors have so far been reported, no BTK ‘inhibitor of choice’ can be identified. Zanubrutinib has promising efficacy in its approved indications and appears to have reduced cardiac toxicities, particularly atrial fibrillation, which may influence the choice of BTK inhibitor treatment by prescribers. Further studies are needed to inform on optimal treatment sequencing of zanubrutinib and its combination with other agents. Here, we summarize existing clinical evidence for its efficacy and safety in mantle cell lymphoma, Waldenström macroglobulinemia, marginal zone lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma, and other B-lymphoproliferative indications.

Plain Language Summary

Zanubrutinib is a drug that was shown to effectively treat cancer of B cells without causing excessive serious side effects

Patients with certain B-cell malignancies (cancers of white blood cells) benefit from treatment with Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors, drugs that block the BTK protein and keep cancer from growing and spreading. Patients experience extended survival with ibrutinib, the first-generation BTK inhibitor approved by US Food and Drug Administration (FDA); however, one in five patients quit treatment because of harmful side effects. Ibrutinib-related side effects such as increased risk of bleeding, atrial fibrillation (abnormal heart rhythm), and high blood pressure are thought to be caused by ibrutinib blocking other proteins besides the intended target protein BTK. To reduce these side effects, zanubrutinib, a next-generation BTK inhibitor, was designed to block BTK more specifically than ibrutinib. Results of clinical studies on zanubrutinib treatment appear promising in patients with several types of B-cell malignancies, including mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM), marginal zone lymphoma (MZL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and small lymphocytic lymphoma. There are not yet enough clinical data to determine which BTK inhibitor is most effective in treating B-cell malignancies without causing harmful side effects. Early data from the phase 3 ALPINE clinical study suggest that zanubrutinib works better than ibrutinib, and fewer patients experience side effects and quit treatment. Zanubrutinib is currently approved for use for treatment of adult patients with MCL who have received at least one prior therapy, for adults with WM, and for adults with MZL who have received at least one anti-CD20–based therapy.

Keywords

B-cell malignancies Bruton tyrosine kinase BTK inhibitor chronic lymphocytic leukemia mantle cell lymphoma marginal zone lymphoma Waldenström macroglobulinemia zanubrutinib

Introduction

Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK)-mediated intracellular signaling of the B-cell receptor (BCR) is critical to normal B-cell development, expansion, and survival.¹ BTK, a member of the tyrosine kinase expressed in carcinoma (TEC) kinase family, is a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase and an essential component of the BCR signalosome.² During BCR signaling, BTK phosphorylation leads signal transduction via multiple pathways, culminating in the nuclear translocation of transcription factors, including NF-κB.³ Activated BCR signaling contributes to the initiation and maintenance of B-cell malignancies. Aberrant BCR signaling has been strongly linked to lymphomagenesis⁴ and plays a critical role in the pathobiology of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL),⁵ mantle cell lymphoma (MCL),⁶ and other hematologic malignancies.^7–10

BTK is an essential component of BCR signaling, as demonstrated by the observed effects of mutations interfering with its function in both animals and humans.⁴ BTK was clinically validated as a target in B-cell malignancies by the first-in-class inhibitor ibrutinib,^11,12 which currently has six US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved indications, including CLL, MCL, Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM), and marginal zone lymphoma (MZL).¹³ Although it represents a significant advance in the treatment of these diseases, ibrutinib intolerance leading to treatment discontinuation remains a concern, particularly since continued administration for an indefinite course is recommended. Large, randomized trials of ibrutinib in CLL for which long-term (⩾ 5-year) data are available have reported discontinuation rates of 41–72%, with approximately 20% of patients having discontinued ibrutinib due to adverse events (AEs).^14–17 Similar findings have been reported with MCL¹⁸ and WM.¹⁹ Real-world ibrutinib discontinuation rates in CLL appear to be higher than those in most trial reports (e.g. 49% at 30 months).^20,21 Subsequent outcomes for patients who progress on ibrutinib have generally been poor.²² Patients with CLL resistant to both BTK inhibitors (BTKis) and BCL2-targeted agents have particularly short survival,²³ although novel treatments such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy may improve this.

In addition to BTK, ibrutinib is known to inhibit a number of other kinases at clinically relevant concentrations²⁴ and the off-target inhibition of TEC kinase is believed to contribute to the increased risk of bleeding.^25–28 Similarly, off-target kinase inhibition can be associated with atrial fibrillation and explains ibrutinib-associated hypertension, seen in as many as 71.6% of patients who were normotensive at baseline.²⁹ Randomized trials and meta-analyses have linked ibrutinib to an increased risk of atrial fibrillation.^28,30,31 Among patients with CLL, atrial fibrillation is the AE that most frequently leads to ibrutinib discontinuation in randomized trials and real-world practice.^15,32 Although the mechanism of ibrutinib-associated atrial fibrillation is not entirely clear, off-target inhibition of TEC kinase is possibly involved, potentially via inhibition of cardiac PI3 K-Akt signaling.³³ Among other ibrutinib-associated AEs, the mechanistic basis for its increased infection risk is uncertain but may be related to off-target inhibition of interleukin-2-inducible T-cell kinase.²⁵ Off-target epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibition may explain the diarrhea and rash observed in patients treated with ibrutinib.^25,34–36

A more selective BTKi might minimize many of these off-target toxicities and may improve long-term treatment tolerability. In addition, a BTKi with greater potency could potentially minimize disease resistance and relapses, which are common reasons for ibrutinib discontinuation.^16,18 Because BTK inhibition is key in treating B-cell malignancies as established by ibrutinib, the search began for a new generation of BTKis with more favorable properties.

The next BTKi to receive regulatory approval was acalabrutinib (ACP-196), which was approved by the FDA for use in relapsed or refractory (R/R) MCL in 2017 and for CLL/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) in 2019.^37,38 In a randomized, open-label, phase 3 head-to-head trial comparing acalabrutinib with ibrutinib in patients with previously treated CLL, acalabrutinib demonstrated noninferior progression-free survival (PFS; median 38.4 months in both arms).³⁹ All-grade atrial fibrillation rates were 9.4% versus 16.0% for acalabrutinib and ibrutinib, respectively (p = 0.02), but grade ⩾ 3 atrial fibrillation rates were higher (4.9% versus 3.8%) in the acalabrutinib arm. Any-grade (8.6% versus 22.8%) and grade ⩾ 3 hypertension (4.1% versus 8.7%) were significantly less frequent for acalabrutinib, but rates of grade ⩾ 3 infections (30.8% versus 30.0%) and major bleeding events (4.5% versus 5.3%) were similar between acalabrutinib and ibrutinib, respectively.

Zanubrutinib (BGB-3111) is the most recent next-generation, covalent, and irreversible BTKi approved for use in the United States, with first FDA approval granted in November 2019 for its use in previously treated MCL. Zanubrutinib is a potent, irreversible inhibitor designed for maximum BTK occupancy and minimal off-target kinase inhibition.^40,41 Findings from in vivo and cellular assays have shown that zanubrutinib displays greater selectivity for BTK relative to TEC- and EGFR-family kinases than ibrutinib (Figure 1). In preclinical testing, zanubrutinib was associated with favorable antitumor activity compared with ibrutinib.⁴⁰ Zanubrutinib displayed favorable pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) properties in early clinical studies (Table 1). Its mean plasma half-life was 2–4 h following a single oral dose and was comparable in Asian and non-Asian patients.⁴² Of note, zanubrutinib is primarily metabolized by CYP3A (cytochrome P450, family 3, subfamily A); dose reductions are therefore recommended for patients receiving concomitant moderate or strong CYP3A inhibitors, while co-administration of moderate or strong CYP3A inducers should be avoided.^42–44

Figure 1.

Kinome profiling of acalabrutinib, ibrutinib, and zanubrutinib at a single dose of 1 mM (KINOMEscan; Eurofins DiscoverX, Fremont, CA).

Table 1.

Comparison of selected biochemical, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic properties for ibrutinib, acalabrutinib, and zanubrutinib.

	Ibrutinib	Acalabrutinib	Zanubrutinib
FDA-approved indication(s)^13,37,43	CLL, MCL, MZL, WM, GVHD	CLL, MCL	MCL, WM, MZL
FDA-approved dose(s)^13,37,43	420 or 560 mg QD	100 mg BID	160 mg BID or 320 mg QD
BTK IC₅₀, nM⁴⁵	1.5	5.1	0.5
TEC selectivity, fold	6.7	25	88
EGFR selectivity, fold	3.5	196	42
Half-life, hours	~4–6	~0.6–2.8	~2–4
Median BTK lymph node occupancy at trough^46,47	420 mg QD: > 90%	200 mg QD: 90% 100 mg BID: 95.8%	320 mg QD: 94% 160 mg BID: 100%

BID, twice daily; BTK, Bruton tyrosine kinase; CLL, chronic lymphocytic leukemia; EGFR, epidermal growth factor receptor; FDA, US Food and Drug Administration; GVHD, graft-versus-host disease; MCL, mantle cell lymphoma; MZL, marginal zone lymphoma; QD, once daily; TEC, tyrosine kinase expressed in carcinoma; WM, Waldenström macroglobulinemia.

In its first-in-human study BGB-3111-AU-003 (NCT02343120), near-complete (> 95%), sustained BTK occupancy in lymph nodes and peripheral blood mononuclear cells was observed at a twice-daily (BID) dose of 160 mg in patients with B-cell malignancies,⁴⁸ an encouraging result despite unknown clinical significance. This result was consistent with a PK study that found zanubrutinib trough concentrations sevenfold higher than its IC₅₀ during the 24-h dosing period when administered at that dosage, indicating favorable exposure coverage.⁴⁹

After receiving breakthrough therapy designation in January 2019, zanubrutinib received accelerated approval for the treatment of adults with MCL who have received at least one prior therapy.⁴³ Here, we review the clinical studies supporting this approval as well as key trials in CLL and other lymphoproliferative diseases. Although some AE data are provided for each trial, tolerability issues are more extensively discussed in the pooled safety analysis section that follows the efficacy sections.

Zanubrutinib efficacy in MCL

BGB-3111-AU-003

This was a global, first-in-human, open-label, dose-escalation/indication-expansion trial^50,51 (Table 2). The dose-escalation part of the study (part 1) was designed to determine the recommended phase 2 dose. Part 2 enrolled patients in disease-specific cohorts with either treatment-naïve (TN) or R/R B-cell malignancies, including MCL, CLL/SLL, and WM. Key exclusion criteria were prior BTKi exposure and a requirement for concurrent strong CYP3A inhibitors/inducers or QT-prolonging medications.

Table 2.

Summary of reported results from key clinical trials of zanubrutinib in lymphoproliferative disorders.

Trial name	Phase	Line	N	Patients	Treatment/median duration of treatment	Follow-up^a	Efficacy	Safety
Mantle cell lymphoma
NCT02343120^50,51 BGB-3111-AU-003	1/2	R/R	32	Age ⩾ 18 years, no prior BTKi	Zanu 160 mg BID or 320 mg QD/15.4 mo	18.8	25% CR, 59% PRmDOR 18.5 momPFS 21.1 mo24-mo OS 64%	Gr ⩾ 3 AEs^b,c: anemia 13%, neutropenia 9%, pneumonia 9%, myalgia 9%; 25% discontinued due to AEs; atrial fibrillation/flutter 6%
		TN	8			8.6	38% CR, 50.0% PR	Any-Gr AEs^c: diarrhea 35%, petechia/purpura/contusion 31%; 21% discontinued due to AEs
NCT03206970^52,53 BGB-3111-206	2	R/R	86	Age 18–75 years, ⩾ 1 prior treatment, no prior BTKi, Chinese trial	Zanu 160 mg BID/NA	18.4	69% CR, 15% PRmDOR 19.5 momPFS 22.1 mo	Gr ⩾ 3 AEs^b: neutropenia^d 20%, lung infection/pneumonia 9%; 9% discontinued due to AEs; no atrial fibrillation reported
Waldenström macroglobulinemia
ASPEN^54,55 NCT03053440BGB-3111-302	3	TNR/R	101	Age ⩾ 18 years, R/R with ⩾ 1 prior therapy or TN unsuitable for standard ICT; no prior BTKi	Zanu 160 mg BID/NA	19.4	In TN: 0% CR, 26% VGPR, 47% PR, 18-mo PFS 78%In R/R: 0% CR, 29% VGPR, 49% PR, 18-mo PFS 86%	Gr ⩾ 3 AEs^b: neutropenia/neutrophil count decreased 20%, hypertension 6%; 4% discontinued due to AEs; no atrial fibrillation/flutter reported
		TNR/R	98		Ibr 420 mg QD/NA	19.4	In TN: 0% CR, 17% VGPR, 50% PR, 18-mo PFS 94%In R/R: 0% CR, 20% VGPR, 61% PR, 18-mo PFS 82%	Gr ⩾ 3 AEs^b: hypertension 11%, neutropenia/neutrophil count decreased 8%; 9% discontinued due to AEs; Gr ⩾ 3 atrial fibrillation/flutter 4%
NCT03332173⁵⁶ BGB-3111-210	2	R/R	44	Age ⩾ 18 years, at least 1 prior therapy, Chinese trial	Zanu 160 mg BID/NA	33.0	CR 0%, VGPR 33%, PR 37%24-mo PFS 61%mDOMR NR	Gr ⩾ 3 AEs^b: neutrophil count decreased 32%, thrombocytopenia 21%, pneumonia 21%; 14% discontinuation due to AEs; no atrial fibrillation/flutter reported
NCT02343120^e,57 BGB-3111-AU003	1/2	R/R	49	Age ⩾ 18 years, no prior BTKi	Zanu 160 mg BID or 320 mg QD (except for 3 pts starting at <320 mg zanu/day)/NA	35.8	CR 2.0%, VGPR 49.0%, PR 28.6%24-mo PFS 76.2%24-mo OS 91.5%	Gr ⩾ 3 AEs^b,c: neutropenia^d 15.6%anemia 9.1%; 14% discontinuation due to AEs; atrial fibrillation 6.1%
		TN	24		Zanu 160 mg BID or 320 mg QD/NA	23.5	CR 0%, VGPR 33.3%, PR 54.2%24-mo PFS 91.5%24-mo OS 100%	Gr ⩾ 3 AEs^b,c: neutropenia^d 15.6%; anemia 9.1%; 13% discontinuation due to AEs; atrial fibrillation 4.2%
Marginal zone lymphoma
MAGNOLIA⁵⁸ NCT03846427BGB-3111-214	2	R/R	68	Age ⩾ 18 years, at least 1 therapy including ⩾ 1 anti-CD20	Zanu 160 mg BID/NA	6.8	CR 15%, PR 45%mDOR and mPFS NR	Gr ⩾ 3 AEs^b: neutropenia 73%; 2.9% discontinuation due to AEs; atrial flutter 1.5%
NCT03520920⁵⁹ BGB-3111-213	2	R/R	5	Age ⩾ 18 years, at least 1 prior therapy, Chinese trial	Zanu 160 mg BID + R 375 mg/m² on D1, 8, 15, 22 (C1), then D1 of C4, C6, C8, and C10/NA	10.3	CR 20%, PR 40%mPFS NE12-mo PFS 75%	Gr ⩾ 3 AEs^b,c: neutrophil count decrease 14.6%, white blood cell count decrease 9.8%; no discontinuations due to TEAEs
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma
ALPINE^60,61 NCT03734016BGB-3111-305	3	R/R	207	Age ⩾ 8 years, ⩾ 1 prior treatment, no prior BTKi therapy	Zanu 160 mg BID/NA	15.3^f	CR/CRi 1.9%, PR/nPR 76.3%12-mo PFS 94.9%12-mo OS 97.0%	Gr ⩾ 3 AEs^b: neutropenia 18.6%, infections 12.7%; 7.7% discontinued due to AEs; atrial fibrillation/flutter 2.5%
			208		Ibr 420 mg QD/NA	15.4^f	CR/CRi 1.4%, PR/nPR 61.1%12-mo PFS 84.0%12-mo OS 92.7%	Gr ⩾ 3 AEs^b: infections 17.9%, neutropenia 15.0%; 13.0% discontinued due to AEs; atrial fibrillation/flutter 10.1%
SEQUOIA⁶² NCT03336333BGB-3111-304(Arms A & B)	3	TN	240	Without del(17p), either aged ⩾ 65 years or 18–65 years and unsuitable for FCR	Zanu 160 mg BID/NA	26.4	CR 6.6%ORR 94.6%24-mo PFS 85.5%24-mo OS 94.3%	Gr ⩾ 3 AEs^b: neutropenia 11.3%, thrombocytopenia 1.7%; 8.3% discontinued due to AEs: atrial fibrillation 3.3%
			227		B (90 mg/m² D1 & D2) + R (375 mg/m² C1, then 500 mg/m²C2-C6)/NA	25.9	CR 15.1%ORR 85.3%24-mo PFS 69.5%24-mo OS 94.6%	Gr ⩾ 3 AEs^b: neutropenia 51%, thrombocytopenia 7.0%; 13.7% discontinued due to AEs; atrial fibrillation 2.6%
SEQUOIA⁶³ NCT03336333BGB-3111-304(Arm C)	3	TN	109	With centrally confirmed del(17p), either aged ⩾ 65 years or 18–65 years and unsuitable for FCR	Zanu 160 mg BID/NA	18.2	CR/CRi 3.7%,PR/PR-L 90.8%12-mo DOR 92.8%24-month PFS 88.9%18-mo OS 95.1%	Gr ⩾ 3 AEs^b: neutropenia/decreased neutrophil count 12.9%, pneumonia (3.7%); 3.7% discontinued due to AEs; atrial fibrillation/flutter 2.8%
SEQUOIA⁶⁴ NCT03336333BGB-3111-304(Arm D)	3	TN	49	With centrally confirmed del(17p), either aged ⩾ 65 years or 18–65 years and unsuitable for FCR	Zanu 160 mg BID, V starting at C4, ramped up to 400 mg QD/NA	12.0	13.9% CR/CRi, 77.8% PR,5.6% PR-L	Gr ⩾ 3 AEs^b: neutropenia ~15%, diarrhea ~6%; 2.0% discontinued due to AEs; atrial fibrillation 2.9%
BOVen^e,65 NCT03824483	2	TN	39	Age ⩾ 18 years, untreated, but prior local RT and short-course corticosteroids allowed	Zanu (160 mg BID) + G (1000 mg IV D1, 8, 15 of C1, then D1 C2-8) + V (targeting 400 mg PO daily)/NA	14 +	uMRD (10^-4)92% (PB), 84% (BM);CR/CRi 49%, OR 100%;77% achieved prespecified MRD endpoint and discontinued treatment	Gr ⩾ 3 AEs^b: neutropenia 15%, thrombocytopenia 5%, rash 5%, pneumonia 5%
NCT04116437^e,66 BGB-3111-215	2	R/R	17	Age ⩾ 18 years, CLL/SLL intolerant to but not progressing on ibr or acala	Zanu 160 mg BID or 320 mg QD/3.0 mo	NA	10/10 efficacy-evaluable patients had SD or better; 6/10 had deepening of response since Zanu initiation	Gr ⩾ 3 AEs^b: neutropenia, 5.9%, syncope 5.9%; 96.8% of AEs associated with prior BTKi intolerance did not recur; 94% of patients remained on treatment
NCT02569476^e,67 BGB-3111-GA101	1b	TNR/R	45	Age ⩾ 18 years, TN, or R/R	Zanu 160 mg BID or 320 mg QD + G/29 mo	29	In TN: 30% CR, 70% PR.In R/R: 28% CR, 64% PR.24-mo event-free rate for DOR 90%mPFS NR	Gr ⩾ 3 AEs^b: neutropenia 31%, pneumonia 9%; 9% discontinued due to AEs; no atrial fibrillation/flutter reported
NCT02343120^e,48 BGB-3111-AU-003	1	TNR/R	94	Age ⩾ 18 years, no prior BTKi	Zanu 40 mg QD–320 mg QD or 160 mg BID/NA	13.7	In TN: 4.5% CR, 95.5% PR/PR-L.In R/R: 1.8% CR, 92.9% PR/PR-L	Gr ⩾ 3 AEs^b: neutropenia 6.4%, hypertension 2.1%; 2.1% discontinued due to AEs; atrial fibrillation 1.1%
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
NCT03145064⁶⁸ BGB-3111-207	2	R/R	41	Age ⩾ 18 years, non-GCB DLBCL ineligible for intensive CT and BM transplantation, Chinese trial	Zanu 160 mg BID/NA	6.8	CR 17.1%, PR 12.2%mDOR 4.5 momPFS 2.8 momOS 8.4 mo	Gr ⩾ 3 AEs in 48.8%; 9.8% discontinuations due to AEs; no atrial fibrillation reported
NCT02795182⁶⁹ BGB-3111-A317	1b	R/R	27	Age ⩾ 18 years, R/R DLBCL	Zanu 160 mg BID + tislelizumab IV 200 mg Q3W/3.0 mo	4.1	CR 15%, PR 22%	Gr ⩾ 3 AEs^b,c: neutropenia 13%, anemia 9%; 13% discontinuations due to AEs
NCT03520920⁵⁹ BGB-3111-213	2	R/R	20	Age ⩾ 18 years, non-GCB DLBCL with ⩾ 1 prior therapy, Chinese trial	Zanu 160 mg BID + R 375 mg/m² on D1, 8, 15, 22 (C1), then D1 of C4, C6, C8, and C10/NA	10.3	CR 5%, PR 30%mDOR 8.8 momPFS 3.4 mo	Gr ⩾ 3 AEs^b,c: neutrophil count decrease 14.6%, white blood cell count decrease 9.8%; no discontinuations due to TEAEs; 15% Gr 5 AEs in DLBCL pts
Follicular lymphoma
NCT02569476^e,67 BGB-3111-GA101	1	R/R	36	Age ⩾ 18 years, R/R FL	Zanu 160 mg BID or 320 mg QD + G/20 mo	20.1	CR 39%, PR 33%24-mo DOR 62%mPFS 25 mo	Gr ⩾ 3 AEs^b: neutropenia 14%, hypertension 8%; 3% discontinuations due to AEs; no atrial fibrillation reported

Acala, acalabrutinib; AE, adverse event; B, bendamustine; BID, twice daily; BM, bone marrow; BTKi, Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor; C, cycle; CR, complete response; CRi, CR with incomplete hematologic recovery; CT, chemotherapy; D, day; DLBCL, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; DOR, duration of response; FCR, fludarabine-cyclophosphamide-rituximab; G, obinutuzumab; GCB, germinal center B-cell; Gr, grade; ibr, ibrutinib; ICT, immunochemotherapy; m, median; mDOMR, median duration of major response; mo, months; MRD, minimal residual disease; NA, not available; NE, not estimable; nPR, nodular partial response; NR, not reached; OR, overall response; OS, overall survival; PB, peripheral blood; PFS, progression-free survival; PO, by mouth; PR, partial response; PR-L, PR with lymphocytosis; pts, patients; Q3W, once every 3 weeks; QD, once daily; R, rituximab; R/R, relapsed or refractory; RT, radiotherapy; SD, stable disease; TEAE, treatment-emergent adverse event; TN, treatment naïve; uMRD, undetectable minimal residual disease; V, venetoclax; VGPR, very good partial response; Zanu, zanubrutinib.

Median follow-up time in months.

The most common AEs of grade ⩾ 3 are shown.

Safety events are reported for the full study population, including patients with other indications/lines.

Includes preferred terms neutropenia, febrile neutropenia, and neutrophil count decrease.

Study also enrolled patients with other malignancies and/or lines. Only results for patients in the category indicated are shown here.

Per investigator assessment at interim analysis.

No dose-limiting toxicity was encountered in part 1; the recommended phase 2 dose of 160 mg BID or 320 mg once daily (QD) was based on PK considerations. At the December 2018 cutoff,⁵⁰ among the 37 patients with R/R MCL, the median age was 70 years, the median number of prior therapies was one (range = 1–4), and 35.1% had high-risk MCL international prognostic index (MIPI) scores. At a median follow-up of 19.4 months, the overall response rate (ORR) in the R/R population was 87%, including 30% achieving a complete response (CR). The median duration of response (mDOR) was 15.4 months and the median PFS was 17.3 months. Overall, 10 patients (19%) had discontinued zanubrutinib treatment due to AEs; 14 patients with R/R disease (38%) remained on the study. Atrial fibrillation/flutter was reported in four patients (7.5%) in the overall (37 R/R + 16 TN) safety population.

Among the 11 patients with TN MCL, at a median follow-up of 8.3 months the ORR was 82%, including 27% CR.⁵¹ The mDOR had not been reached and eight patients (73%) remained on the study.

BGB-3111-206

BGB-3111-206 (NCT03206970) was an open-label, single-arm study of zanubrutinib in patients with R/R MCL that was conducted in China (Table 2).⁵² Patients received 160 mg of oral zanubrutinib BID and had not previously received a BTKi. The 86 patients were predominantly men (77.9%). Their median age was 60.5 years, the median number of prior therapies was two (range = 1–4), and 33.7% had received three or more prior therapies. A total of 27.8% had TP53-mutated disease and 38.4% had high-risk MIPI-b scores.

At a median follow-up of 35.3 months,⁷⁰ the ORR was 83.7%, with 77.9% of patients achieving CR. The median PFS was 33.0 months and median overall survival (OS) was not reached. Although the ORR was nearly identical to that of the R/R population in the AU-003 trial (83.7% versus 84%), the CR rate in this trial was considerably higher (77.9% versus 25%).

Cross-trial comparisons are by nature problematic, but it seems notable that there were many differences in the two study populations aside from race (100% Asian in this study versus 8.1% Asian in AU-003). Although the BGB-3111-206 study population was generally younger (median age 60.5 versus 70.5 years), patients had more median prior therapies (2 versus 1), more bulky disease (43% versus 21.9% > 5 cm), more refractory disease (52.3% versus 25.0%), and a slightly higher percentage of high-risk MIPI score (38.4% versus 31.3%). Of note, positron emission tomography (PET) imaging was required in all patients for response assessment in BGB-3111-206, but this was not the case in AU-003, which was designed before the publication of the Lugano classification in 2014.⁷¹ Thus, the latter study used computed tomography imaging with PET scans performed only at investigators’ discretion. Only eight patients had postbaseline PET scans in AU-003, of which four had their responses upgraded from non-CR to CR, suggesting that metabolic CRs may have been missed in at least some patients in that study. As a further point of reference, studies of ibrutinib in R/R MCL that did not require routine PET scans for all patients have reported CR rates of 21%¹² and 27%,⁷² whereas a study of acalabrutinib in R/R MCL that also did not require routine PET scans at all assessments reported a CR rate of 40%.⁷³

In the BGB-3111-206 study, ORRs were high in all analyzed subgroups, including patients with more than three prior therapies and those in the blastoid variant, high-risk MIPI-b, and refractory disease subgroups. In contrast to the results from the AU-003 R/R MCL study, however, in BGB-3111-206 the ORR was significantly lower in patients aged ⩾ 65 years than in those aged < 65 years [59.1%, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 36.4–79.3 versus 92.2%, 95% CI = 82.7–97.4; p = 0.0009]. Similarly, CR rates were lower between patient age groups (45.5% versus 76.6%; p = 0.01).

Adverse events of grade ⩾ 3 were primarily hematologic. As of the data cutoff date (8 September 2020), no patients had experienced atrial fibrillation/flutter, a second primary malignancy (SPM), or tumor lysis syndrome. Discontinuation due to AEs occurred in 9.3% of patients, most commonly due to pulmonary events (lung infection, pneumonia, and interstitial lung disease; n = 1 each). A recently published pooled analysis of 112 patients with R/R MCL from AU-003 and BGB-3111-206 (median follow-up 24.7 and 24.9 months, respectively) reported a 1.8% rate of atrial fibrillation (0.9% grade ⩾ 3), with 12.5% of patients discontinuing zanubrutinib due to AEs.⁷⁴

Data from the BGB-3111-AU-003 and BGB-3111-206 studies provided the basis for FDA-accelerated approval of zanubrutinib in November 2019 for the treatment of adults with R/R MCL who have received at least one prior therapy.⁴³ As a condition of expedited approval, both the FDA and the Chinese National Medical Products Administration mandated that efficacy be validated in a postapproval confirmatory phase 3 trial (BGB-3111-306; NCT04002297).⁷⁵

Zanubrutinib efficacy in WM

ASPEN study

ASPEN (BGB-3111-302; NCT03053440) is an ongoing, randomized, open-label phase 3 study comparing zanubrutinib and ibrutinib in patients with WM requiring treatment.⁵⁴ It is the first and largest head-to-head trial of BTKis to date. Patients either had R/R disease (⩾ 1 prior therapy) or were TN and unsuitable for standard immunochemotherapy; patients who had prior BTKi treatment were excluded. In ASPEN, patients with MYD88^L265P disease were randomized 1:1 to zanubrutinib 160 mg BID or ibrutinib 420 mg QD (arms A and B). Patients with MYD88 wild-type WM were enrolled in a nonrandomized study arm (arm C) and received zanubrutinib 160 mg BID.⁵⁵ The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving very good partial response (VGPR) or CR as assessed by the independent review committee (IRC).

In the randomized trial, the ibrutinib population comprised 99 patients (81 R/R, 18 TN) and the zanubrutinib population comprised 102 patients (83 R/R, 19 TN). Baseline characteristics were generally balanced, but more patients were aged > 75 years (33% versus 22%) and more patients had anemia at baseline (hemoglobin ⩽ 11 g/dL in 66% versus 54%) in the zanubrutinib arm. The median number of prior therapies in the R/R population was one in both arms. At a median follow-up of 19.4 months, no patient in either arm achieved a CR; VGPR rates for zanubrutinib versus ibrutinib were 29% (95% CI = 20–40) versus 20% (95% CI = 12–30; p = 0.12) in R/R patients and 26% (95% CI = 9–51) versus 17% (95% CI = 4–41; p = 0.54) in TN patients. Among all patients (TN and R/R), the difference in response rates (28% and 19% for zanubrutinib and ibrutinib, respectively) was not statistically significant (p = 0.09). Eighteen-month PFS rates for zanubrutinib versus ibrutinib were 86% versus 82% in R/R patients and 78% versus 94% in TN patients. OS rates at 18 months were 97% and 93% for zanubrutinib and ibrutinib, respectively.

Treatment discontinuations due to AEs were more common in the ibrutinib arm (9% versus 4%). The rate of any-grade atrial fibrillation/flutter was approximately 10-fold higher in ibrutinib-treated patients (15% versus 2%) and atrial fibrillation/flutter of grade ⩾ 3 was reported in 4% of patients in the ibrutinib arm versus 0% of patients in the zanubrutinib arm. Cumulative rates of atrial fibrillation/flutter, hemorrhage, major hemorrhage, hypertension, pneumonia, and diarrhea were all higher for ibrutinib than zanubrutinib, whereas neutropenia was higher with zanubrutinib. Rates of infections were similar in both arms.

Thus, whereas ASPEN failed to show a statistically significant improvement in response to zanubrutinib compared with ibrutinib, the findings established the efficacy of zanubrutinib in WM and highlighted its important safety advantages, particularly regarding cardiac toxicity. Based on these results, zanubrutinib was approved for use in patients with WM by the FDA in August 2021.

Results from the ASPEN cohort comprising patients with MYD88 wild-type WM have also been reported.⁵⁵ Of these 26 patients, five had TN and 21 had R/R disease. At a median 17.9-month follow-up, 50% had achieved a major response [partial response (PR) or better], including 27% with VGPR as best response. The ORR was 81% (95% CI = 61–93) and the zanubrutinib safety profile was consistent with that seen for the zanubrutinib arm in the randomized ASPEN trial. Although the number of patients was limited, these results demonstrated the efficacy and tolerability of zanubrutinib in MYD88 wild-type WM, which is associated with poor prognosis.

BGB-3111-AU-003

Long-term results for zanubrutinib in WM have been reported for 24 and 53 patients with TN and R/R WM, respectively.⁵⁷ The median ages were 65 and 68 years, respectively, and patients with R/R disease had a median of two prior systemic therapies. All but four patients received zanubrutinib 160 mg BID or 320 mg QD. At the March 2018 cutoff date, among patients with R/R disease (median follow-up of 35.8 months) the ORR (minor response or better) was 93.9%, including 2% CR; the 24-month PFS rate was 76.2% and the 24-month OS was 91.5%. In patients with TN WM (median follow-up of 23.5 months), the ORR was 100% (0% CR), the 24-month PFS rate was 91.5%, and the 24-month OS was 100%. In the total study population, 72.7% of patients remained on treatment; 13.0% had discontinued due to AEs, of which one event was considered treatment related. Among all patients, atrial fibrillation/flutter was reported in 5.2%, including 3.9% of grade 1 or 2 and 1.3% of grade 3.

Other

The phase 2 BGB-3111-210 (NCT03332173)⁵⁶ trial is summarized in Table 2.

Zanubrutinib efficacy in MZL

MAGNOLIA

MAGNOLIA (BGB-3111-214; NCT03846427) was a phase 2, single-arm study of zanubrutinib in patients with MZL who had received at least one prior therapy including at least one CD20-directed regimen.⁵⁸ A total of 68 patients were enrolled and treated. Among these, the median age was 70 years, with 28% aged ⩾ 75 years, and the median number of prior therapies was two (range = 1–6). At a 10.7-month median follow-up, the ORR as assessed by investigators was 74%, with 24%, 50%, and 15% of patients achieving CR, PR, and stable disease, respectively. CR rates for extranodal, nodal, splenic, and unknown subtypes were 40%, 16%, 8%, and 25%, respectively. Responses were generally consistent across subgroups, including age, bulky disease, number of prior lines of therapy, and bone marrow (BM) involvement. The median PFS had not been reached. The 9-month PFS rate was 67%. One patient (1.5%) experienced grade ⩾ 3 atrial flutter, two patients discontinued zanubrutinib due to AEs, and one patient with preexisting cardiovascular disease had a grade 5 myocardial infarction.

Based on these results, in May 2021, the FDA granted priority review to a supplemental new drug application for zanubrutinib in adults with MZL who have previously received at least one anti-CD20–based therapy,⁷⁶ and accelerated approval for zanubrutinib in this indication was subsequently granted in September 2021.

BGB-3111-213

BGB-3111-213 (NCT03520920) is an ongoing phase 2 trial of zanubrutinib in combination with rituximab in indolent and aggressive lymphomas, including MZL, being conducted in China.⁵⁹ Early results are summarized in Table 2.

Zanubrutinib efficacy in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma

ALPINE study

ALPINE (BGB-3111-305; NCT03734016) is an ongoing, head-to-head phase 3, randomized, open-label, multicenter study comparing the efficacy and safety of zanubrutinib to ibrutinib in patients with R/R CLL/SLL (Table 2).^60,61 The study randomizes adults with CLL/SLL who have had at least one prior therapy but no prior BTKi treatments 1:1 to zanubrutinib 160 mg BID or ibrutinib 420 mg QD. Results from the first interim analysis (data cutoff date: 20 December 2019), representing data for 207 and 208 patients randomized to zanubrutinib and ibrutinib, respectively, have been reported.⁶¹ The median follow-up time were 15.3 months and 15.4 months, respectively.

Baseline characteristics were generally similar, with a median of one prior therapy and a median age of 67 years in both arms. In the zanubrutinib and ibrutinib arms, 7.3% and 10.1%, respectively, had received more than three prior therapies, and 19.8% and 18.3% had del(17p) and/or mutant TP53, respectively. Some 87.4% (zanubrutinib) and 75.5% (ibrutinib) of patients remained on treatment. In the zanubrutinib arm, the ORR (defined as investigator-assessed CR + PR) was statistically superior to that in the ibrutinib arm [78.3% (95% CI = 72.0–83.7) versus 62.5% (95% CI 55.5–69.1); p = 0.0006] (Figure 2). Other responses for zanubrutinib and ibrutinib, respectively, were PR with lymphocytosis (PR-L) (10.1% versus 18.8%), stable disease (8.2% versus 13.5%), and progressive disease (0.5% versus 1.0%). Among patients with del(17p), the ORR was 83.3% for zanubrutinib (n = 24) and 53.8% for ibrutinib (n = 26). The ORR favored zanubrutinib in subgroups that included age (< 65 years versus ⩾ 65 years), sex, disease stage, number of prior lines of therapy (1–3 versus > 3), baseline del(17p)/TP53 mutation status, and bulky disease. Twelve-month PFS rates for zanubrutinib and ibrutinib were 94.9% and 84.0%, respectively [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.40 (95% CI = 0.2–0.69); p = 0.0007], and 12-month OS rates were 97.0% and 92.7%, respectively [HR = 0.54 (95% CI = 0.25–1.16); p = 0.108].

Figure 2.

Investigator-assessed responses at first interim analysis of the ALPINE trial of zanubrutinib versus ibrutinib in patients with relapsed or refractory CLL/SLL.⁶¹ Two-sided superiority is shown.

Treatment discontinuations due to AEs were reported in 7.7% and 13.0% of patients in the zanubrutinib and ibrutinib arms, respectively. ALPINE interim data indicated a striking difference between treatment arms for the incidence rate of a key secondary trial endpoint, atrial fibrillation/flutter. Atrial fibrillation/flutter of any grade (10.1% versus 2.5%) (Figure 3) and of grade ⩾ 3 (1.9% versus 1.0%) was more frequent in the ibrutinib arm.

Figure 3.

Cumulative incidence of atrial fibrillation/flutter by time from first dose at first interim analysis of the ALPINE study.⁶⁴

Overall, interim data from the large, randomized ALPINE trial demonstrated superior response rates as well as improved cardiac safety relative to ibrutinib in patients with R/R CLL. Limitations, however, include a relatively short follow-up time to date and the unblinded nature of the study with an investigator-assessed primary endpoint.

SEQUOIA study

The safety and efficacy of zanubrutinib in patients with TN CLL/SLL are being evaluated in another large comparative trial: the ongoing, multicenter, open-label, randomized phase 3 SEQUOIA study (BGB-3111-304; NCT03336333).⁶³ Patients without del(17p) are randomized 1:1 to zanubrutinib 160 mg BID (arm A) or six cycles of bendamustine/rituximab (arm B); however, considering the poor prognosis of patients with del(17p) undergoing chemotherapy, these patients are not randomized but instead receive zanubrutinib 160 mg BID (arm C) or zanubrutinib plus venetoclax (arm D) in separate cohorts.

In arms A and B at a median follow-up of 26.2 months, ORRs by independent review were 94.6% (6.6% CR) and 85.3% (15.1% CR) for zanubrutinib and bendamustine/rituximab, respectively.⁶² Twenty-four-month PFS rates were 85.5% and 69.5% for zanubrutinib and bendamustine/rituximab, respectively (HR = 0.42; p < 0.0001). Significant zanubrutinib PFS benefit was seen in subgroups including unmutated IGHV (HR = 0.24; p < 0.0001) and chromosome 11q deletion (HR = 0.21). Estimated 24-month OS rates were 94.3% and 94.6% for zanubrutinib and bendamustine/rituximab, respectively. Zanubrutinib was associated with less frequent grade ⩾ 3 (52.5% versus 79.7%) and serious (36.7% versus 49.8%) AEs as well as hematologic AEs and discontinuations due to AEs (8.3% versus 13.7%). Rates of grade ⩾ 3 infections, hypertension, and bleeding were 16.3%, 6.3%, and 3.8%, respectively, in the zanubrutinib arm. Rates of any-grade and grade ⩾ 3 atrial fibrillation were 3.3% and 0.4%, respectively, for zanubrutinib, and 2.6% and 1.3%, respectively, for bendamustine/rituximab. The data therefore support the potential utility of zanubrutinib in the frontline management of patients with TN CLL/SLL.

Detailed results have been reported for the noncomparative arm C, which enrolls patients with TN del(17p) CLL/SLL who are either aged ⩾ 65 years or unsuitable for fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab therapy.⁶³ As of 20 February 2019 data cutoff date, 109 patients were enrolled in this arm of the global study. The median age was 70 years, 71.6% were men, 56.0% had cytopenia at baseline, and 37.2% had complex karyotype (⩾ 3 abnormalities). At a median follow-up of 18.2 months, the ORR was 94.5% (Figure 4); mDOR was not reached, and DOR was ⩾ 12 months in 92.8% of patients. Median PFS and OS were not reached; the 18-month PFS rate was 88.6% (95% CI = 79.0–94.0) and the 18-month OS rate was 95.1% (95% CI = 88.4–98.0). Most patients with baseline anemia (86.0%), neutropenia (75.0%), and thrombocytopenia (85.7%) experienced sustained improvements in their cytopenias.

Figure 4.

Best response to zanubrutinib monotherapy in evaluable patients with treatment-naive CLL and 17p deletion in the SEQUOIA (BGB-3111-304) trial. ORR was defined as CR + CRi + PR + PR-L.

Four patients (3.7%) discontinued treatment due to AEs. Of note, although 18.3% of patients received anticoagulants and 24.8% received antiplatelet therapy, grade ⩾ 3 bleeding occurred in only 4.6% of patients. Atrial fibrillation/flutter was reported in 2.8% of patients. There were two fatal AEs, one of which (sepsis in an 84-year-old woman with healthcare-associated pneumonia post-zanubrutinib) was assessed as related to zanubrutinib. Thus, results from arm C of SEQUOIA for patients with del(17p) compare favorably with those from previous studies of patients with TN CLL/SLL who were treated with chemoimmunotherapy, and the toxicity profile associated with zanubrutinib was consistent with that seen in other studies.

Arm D explores zanubrutinib in combination with venetoclax in patients with TN CLL/SLL with del(17p). To decrease the risk of TLS, venetoclax was first administered after three cycles of zanubrutinib, and venetoclax doses were then ramped up.⁶⁴ At the relatively short median follow-up time of 12.0 months, among the 36 patients evaluable, the ORR was 97.2% (13.9% CR/CR with incomplete hematologic recovery; 77.8% PR; 5.6% PR-L); no patient had PD. Responses appeared to deepen in patients treated for longer periods. No TLS was reported. In the safety population (n = 49), 32.7% of patients had a grade ⩾ 3 AE, most commonly neutropenia, and there was one fatal AE, lung carcinoma, unrelated to zanubrutinib or venetoclax. One patient (2.9%) experienced worsening of preexisting atrial fibrillation/flutter. More mature follow-up data are needed to further investigate the combination of zanubrutinib and venetoclax in this high-risk population.

BOVen study

Currently, BTKis are generally used until disease progression or intolerance. The investigator-sponsored, ongoing, multicenter, phase 2 BOVen (NCT03824483) study is examining zanubrutinib in combination with obinutuzumab and venetoclax as a minimal residual disease (MRD)-driven, time-limited therapy for patients with TN CLL/SLL (Table 2) as well as TP53-mutated MCL. After a minimum of eight cycles, patients with undetectable MRD (10^–4 sensitivity) in two consecutive peripheral blood assays and one BM assay discontinue therapy and enter post-treatment surveillance.⁶⁵ Results for 39 patients with TN CLL have been reported.⁶⁵ In this population, CLL-International Prognostic Index risk scores were high/very high for 67% of patients, 72% of patients had unmutated IGHV, and 15.4% of patients had del(17p) or TP53 mutant disease. At a median follow-up of > 14 months, all patients had achieved an objective response, with 49% achieving CR or CR with incomplete hematologic recovery. Undetectable MRD status had led to treatment discontinuation – in this case the desired outcome – in 29 of 39 patients (77%).

BGB-3111-AU-003

This first-in-human phase 1 trial enrolled 22 and 72 patients with TN and R/R CLL/SLL, respectively, in the dose-expansion cohort, of whom 78 were evaluable for response.⁴⁸ Previously treated patients had a median of two prior therapies. At a median follow-up of 13.7 months, the ORR (defined as CR, PR, or PR-L), was 100% and 94.6% in the TN and R/R groups, respectively, and predominantly comprised PR in both (81.8% and 80.4%, respectively). At 12 months, the PFS rate was 100%. Favorable tolerability was noted, with only 2.1% of patients discontinuing due to AEs, and atrial fibrillation reported in one patient (1.1%). These encouraging early results supported further studies of zanubrutinib in CLL such as those described above.

Other

Several other key trials of zanubrutinib as a single agent or in combination with other agents for the treatment of patients with TN or R/R CLL/SLL are summarized in Table 2.

Zanubrutinib efficacy in other indications

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Owing to the unmet need for better therapies for patients with R/R diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL),⁷⁷ zanubrutinib is being investigated as a single agent and as part of combination therapy in this population. Trials that have reported results for these regimens are shown in Table 2.

Follicular lymphoma

BGB-3111-GA101 (NCT02569476), which investigates zanubrutinib in combination with obinutuzumab in patients with CLL, also included patients with R/R follicular lymphoma (FL) (Table 2).⁶⁷ At a median follow-up of 20 months, among these 36 patients (median = 2 prior therapies), the ORR was 72%, including 39% with a CR. Combined with reported favorable tolerability in the total (CLL and FL) trial population, these results supported further development of zanubrutinib combinations in FL.

Zanubrutinib safety

Zanubrutinib pooled safety analysis

Recently, an analysis of safety data from six pooled zanubrutinib studies has been reported.⁷⁸ The studies were BGB-3111-1002 (B-cell lymphomas), BGB-3111-205 (R/R CLL/SLL), BGB-3111-206 (R/R MCL), BGB-3111-302 (TN or R/R WM), BGB-3111-210 (R/R WM), and BGB-3111-AU-003 (B-cell malignancies). A total of 779 patients were treated with ⩾ 1 dose of zanubrutinib, 98% at either 320 mg QD or 160 mg BID.

The median age in these studies was 65 years, with 20% of patients aged ⩾ 75 years. Approximately 68% of patients were men and 88% had R/R disease with a median of two prior lines of therapy (range = 1–12). The most common malignancies were WM (33%), CLL/SLL (29%), and MCL (19%). The median duration of zanubrutinib treatment was 25.8 months; median overall dose intensity was 99%. At the time of analysis, 43% of patients had discontinued zanubrutinib treatment, most commonly due to disease progression (27%) or AEs (10%). All-grade treatment-emergent AEs (TEAEs) were reported in 98% of patients. The most common all-grade TEAE was upper respiratory tract infection (40%), and the most common grade ⩾ 3 TEAE was pneumonia (11%) (Table 3). Grade ⩾ 3 AEs were more common in patients aged ⩾ 75 years (76%) than in those aged 65 to < 75 (64%) or < 65 years (63%).⁷⁸

Table 3.

Nonhematologic treatment-emergent adverse events of all grades reported in ⩾ 10% or grade ⩾ 3 reported in ⩾ 2% of patients in the pooled analysis of single-agent zanubrutinib safety (n = 779).⁷⁸.

Adverse event	All-grade, %	Grade ⩾ 3, %
Upper respiratory tract infection	40	2
Rash^a	27	0.4
Bruising^a	25	0.1
Musculoskeletal pain^a	24	2
Diarrhea	23	2
Cough	21	0.1
Pneumonia^a	21	11
Urinary tract infection	15	2
Fatigue	15	1
Hematuria	14	0.5
Constipation	14	0.4
Headache	13	1
Pyrexia	13	1
Hypertension	12	5
Nausea	11	0.4
Sepsis^a	2	2

Includes multiple preferred terms within the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities.

Grade 5 AEs (regardless of attribution to treatment) occurring in more than one patient were pneumonia (n = 9; 1%), multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (n = 5; 1%), sepsis (n = 4; 1%), and death, cause unspecified (n = 4; 1%). Of the 39 patients with grade 5 AEs, at least seven occurred in the setting of progressive disease. Thirteen of the grade 5 AEs (33%) were considered treatment related.

Data for zanubrutinib AEs of interest are shown in Table 4. The most frequent grade ⩾ 3 AE of interest was infection, with an exposure-adjusted incidence rate (EAIR) of 1.4/100 person-months. Infections were more common in patients with CLL/SLL (87%) and WM (80%) than for MCL (69%).⁷⁸ The second most frequent grade ⩾ 3 AE was neutropenia, with an EAIR of 1.2/100 person-months. All other grade ⩾ 3 AEs of interest occurred at EAIRs of < 1/100 person-months. The most common AEs of interest of all grades included grade 1–2 mucocutaneous bleeding (e.g. petechiae, purpura, and contusion). Bleeding events were more common in patients aged ⩾ 75 years (65%) and in those with CLL/SLL (72%) compared with MCL (47%) or WM (54%), whereas major hemorrhages were more common in WM (6%) and MCL (5%) than in CLL/SLL (2%).⁷⁸ Use of concurrent antiplatelet therapy weakly correlated with risk of grade ⩾ 3 hemorrhage (HR = 2.0; p = 0.1). Anticoagulant use up to and including the day of the event, however, was significantly associated with an increased risk of grade ⩾ 3 hemorrhage (HR = 10.1; p < 0.0001). Most AEs (e.g. neutropenia, atrial fibrillation/flutter, and major hemorrhage) had reached a plateau by approximately 24 months.

Table 4.

Summary of zanubrutinib adverse events of interest by category.

AEI	EAIR^a		All patients with Gr ⩾ 3 event, n (%)
AEI	All-grade	Grade ⩾ 3	All patients with Gr ⩾ 3 event, n (%)
Infections	9.6	1.4	214 (27)
Opportunistic infections	0.1	0.1	15 (2)
Hemorrhage^b	4.8	0.2	28 (4)
Major hemorrhage	0.2	0.2	28 (4)
Neutropenia^c	2.1	1.2	183 (23)
Thrombocytopenia^d	1.1	0.3	61 (8)
Anemia^e	0.8	0.04	63 (8)
Second primary malignancies^f	0.6	0.2	40 (5)
Skin cancers	0.4	0.1	13 (2)
Hypertension	0.6	0.2	41 (5)
Atrial fibrillation and flutter	0.1	0.03	6 (1)
Tumor lysis syndrome^g	0.02	0.02	3 (0.4)

AEI, adverse event of interest; EAIR, exposure-adjusted incidence rate; Gr, grade; PT, preferred term.

EAIRs calculated as the first occurrence of each adverse event of interest per 100 person-months of zanubrutinib exposure.

Includes major hemorrhage.

Includes clinical adverse events reported under PTs neutropenia (n = 97), neutrophil count decreased (n = 178), febrile neutropenia (n = 14), and neutropenic sepsis (n = 1).

Includes clinical adverse events reported under the PTs thrombocytopenia (n = 58) and platelet count decreased (n = 97).

Includes clinical adverse events reported under the PTs anemia (n = 125) and hemoglobin decreased (n = 6).

Inclusive of skin cancers.

Two cases of tumor lysis syndrome occurred > 30 days after discontinuation of zanubrutinib for disease progression; both were assessed as grade ⩾ 3 and serious. In one patient, the event occurred in association with venetoclax exposure, a known precipitant of tumor lysis syndrome. A third patient experienced an event with onset 9 days after discontinuation of zanubrutinib for progression of mantle cell lymphoma on study day 150, which was unresponsive to medical management. The patient died 3 days after onset from complications of acute kidney injury.

EAIRs for atrial fibrillation and flutter were low (grade 1 or 2; 0.1/100 person-months; grade ⩾ 3, 0.03/100 person-months). In addition, most patients experiencing atrial fibrillation/flutter had known risk factors, including hypertension (n = 9), atrial fibrillation/supraventricular tachycardia (n = 6), and dyslipidemias (n = 6). As expected, atrial fibrillation was more prevalent in older patients (9% in patients aged ⩾75 years versus 3% in patients aged ⩾ 65–75 years and 0.3% in patients aged < 65 years). SPMs were reported in 13% of patients, primarily comprising nonmelanoma skin cancers. Four patients (0.5%) died from complications of SPMs [acute myeloid leukemia, gastric adenocarcinoma, transformation to aggressive lymphoma, and recurrent metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (n = 1 each)].

Ongoing zanubrutinib trials

A list of ongoing zanubrutinib trials in hematologic malignancies, which were currently recruiting as of 21 July 2021 according to the ClinicalTrials.gov website, is shown in Table 5. The studies are arranged by geographical region and decreasing numbers of patients expected to be enrolled.

Table 5.

Summary of clinical trials of zanubrutinib in hematologic malignancies listed in ClinicalTrials.gov as currently enrolling patients as of 30 September 2021.

Trial identifier^a	Phase	Sites	N	Line	Indication	Key inclusions/exclusions	Treatment	Est. primary completion date
Global
NCT03336333⁶³ SEQUOIABGB-3111-304	3	160	710	TN	CLL/SLL	Must be either age ⩾ 65 years or unsuitable for FCR	No del(17p): zanu versus BR (Arms A&B)Del(17p): zanu (Arm C); zanu + V (Arm D)	10/2021
NCT04002297⁷⁹ MANGROVE BGB-3111-306	3	122	500	TN	MCL	Must be age ⩾ 65 years and transplant ineligible	Zanu + R versus BR	9/2021
NCT02914938ME-401-002	1	24	177	R/R	CLL/SLL, DLBCL, FL, MCL, MZL, high-grade NHL	No prior PI3K inhibitorNo prior BTKi unless progressing or intolerant	ME0401, ME-401 + zanu, ME-401 + R	9/2021
Asia/Pacific
NCT04277637BGB-11417-101	1	4	284	R/R	CLL/SLL, DLBCL, FL, MCL, MZL, WM	No prior Bcl-2 inhibitor	BGB-11417 ± zanu	8/2023
NCT04282018BGB-A317-3111-10188-101	1/2	6	150	R/R	R/R CLL/SLL, FL, MCL, MZL,DLBCL	No prior PI3k inhibitor	BGB-10188 ± zanu	3/2025
NCT04938297ZR2	2	1	100	TNR/R	CNSL, DLBCL	No prior BTKi or len treatment	Zanu + len + R induction;then len or zanu maintenance	10/2022
NCT04436107BGB-3111-110	1	10	67	R/R	DLBCL	Must have prior CD20 and anthracycline treatment	Zanu + len ± R	8/2022
NCT04668365HNSZLYYNHL05	2	1	59	TNR/R	DLBCL	Must have high-risk disease	Zanu + R-CHOP (TN); zanu + GemOx/DHAP/ICE/GDP,then maintenance zanu (R/R)	12/2023
NCT04463953BDH-WM2020/4	2	1	55	TN	WM	Patient must not have undergone standard treatment	Zanu + ixa + dexa	5/2023
NCT04172246BGB-3111-211	1/2	15	53	R/R	CLL/SLL, MCL, FL, MZL, and WM	–	Zanu	7/2022
NCT04736914BGB-3111-2002-IIT	2	1	47	TN	MCL	Age 18–65 years, suitable for high-dose Ara-C	Zanu + R-CHOP or R-DHAOx (induction), ASCT, zanu (maintenance)	1/2023
NCT04624958B2020-232-01	2	3	42	TN	MCL	–	Zanu + R (induction); R-DHAOx (consolidation); zanu (maintenance)	12/2025
NCT04899453PUMCH-NHL-007	2	1	42	TN	PVRL	–	Zanu + R + MTX	8/2022
NCT04705129RJ-PMBCL-1	2	1	40	R/R	PMBCL, EBV + DLBCL NOS	Must have prior R, anthracycline therapies	Zanu + tislelizumab	1/2023
NCT04460248ZR2	2	1	40	TN	DLBCL	Must be age ⩾ 75 years unsuitable or unwilling to undergo CT	Zanu + len + R	8/2021
NCT04835870ZR-CHOP	2	1	20	TN	Non-GCB DLBCL	–	Zanu + R-CHOP	1/2024
NCT04899570PUMCH-NHL-008	2	1	20	TN	IVLCL	–	Zanu + R-CHOP	4/2023
Europe
NCT04271956CLL-RT1	2	12	48	R/R	CLL with RT	Must have < 2 prior treatments, not primary progressive	Zanu + tislelizumab	8/2022
NCT04515238CLL2-BZAG	2	2	40	R/R	CLL	No prior progression on V or a BTKi	B (debulking), then zanu + GV induction and maintenance	10/2022
North America
NCT03824483BOVen18-427	2	7	77	TN	CLL/SLL, MCL	For MCL, must have TP53 mutation	Zanu + G + V	2/2022
NCT04116437BGB-3111-215	2	29	90	R/R	CLL/SLL, MCL, MZL, WM	Must be intolerant to prior ibr or acala	Zanu	6/2025
NCT04458610NCI-2020-05053	2	1	60	TN	CLL/SLL	–	Zanu + R	5/2022

Ab, antibody; acala, acalabrutinib; B, bendamustine; BR, bendamustine and rituximab; BTKi, Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor; CHOP, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone; CLL, chronic lymphocytic leukemia; CNSL, central nervous system lymphoma; CT, chemotherapy; dexa, dexamethasone; DHAOx, dexamethasone high-dose cytarabine, and oxaliplatin; DLBCL, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; EBV, Epstein–Barr virus; FCR, fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab; FL, follicular lymphoma; G, obinutuzumab; GCB, germinal center B-cell; GDP, gemcitabine, dexamethasone, and cisplatin; GemOx, gemcitabine and oxaliplatin; ibr, ibrutinib; ICE, ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide; IVLCL, intravascular large B-cell lymphoma; ixa, ixazomib; len, lenalidomide; MCL, mantle cell lymphoma; MTX, methotrexate; MZL, marginal zone lymphoma; N, projected enrollment; NHL, non-Hodgkin lymphoma; NOS, not otherwise specified; PMBCL, primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma; PVRL, primary vitreoretinal lymphoma; R, rituximab; R/R, relapsed or refractory; RT, Richter transformation; SLL, small lymphocytic lymphoma; TN, treatment naïve; V, venetoclax; WM, Waldenström macroglobulinemia; Zanu, zanubrutinib.

Phase 1 pharmacokinetics trials were excluded. Trials are ordered by geographical region and projected numbers of patients. For more complete information, consult http://clinicaltrials.gov.

Other areas of research

Other questions remain to be addressed, including the safety and efficacy of zanubrutinib in other malignancies. New options for patients with B-cell malignancies, such as CAR T-cell therapy, warrant new studies to clarify the optimal place of zanubrutinib in treatment lines. The ZUMA-2 trial investigated CAR T-cell therapy in patients with R/R MCL whose previous therapies included BTKis, associating KTE-X19 with durable remissions in most patients with this difficult-to-treat malignancy.⁸⁰ At that time, zanubrutinib had not yet been approved, so all ZUMA-2 patients had been exposed to ibrutinib, acalabrutinib, or both. Because the FDA subsequently approved zanubrutinib for use in R/R MCL, it is likely that some patients have been or will be treated with zanubrutinib followed by CAR T-cell therapy, but data are not yet available. Other issues of optimal sequencing of CAR T-cell therapy and zanubrutinib in MCL and CLL remain to be resolved.

Finally, potential uses of zanubrutinib in nononcology indications such as chronic graft-versus-host disease, for which ibrutinib has been approved,^13,81 as well as IgG4 disease,⁸² remain to be explored but fall outside the scope of the current review.

Conclusion

The first-in-class BTKi ibrutinib has been associated with toxicities that may limit its use in certain patient populations. These groups include those on anticoagulants or antiplatelet therapy and patients with cardiovascular comorbidities. Next-generation BTKis (acalabrutinib and zanubrutinib) subsequently designed to improve tolerability by reducing off-target inhibition have received FDA approval in specific B-cell lymphoproliferative indications. Still more recently, preliminary efficacy and tolerability results in B-cell malignancies for a noncovalent, reversible BTKi, pirtobrutinib, have been reported.⁸³ Only a meager amount of comparative trial data exists for these agents.

Zanubrutinib is a BTKi with approximately four- to 60-fold improved selectivity relative to ibrutinib. Zanubrutinib has been FDA-approved for use in patients with WM, R/R MCL, and R/R MZL and is being investigated in other B-cell malignancies. Interim data from the randomized phase 3, ALPINE (NCT03734016) trial of zanubrutinib versus ibrutinib in patients with R/R CLL or SLL recently associated zanubrutinib with a superior response rate as well as improved cardiac safety and fewer treatment discontinuations due to AEs in this patient population.⁶¹ A phase 3 randomized trial of the next-generation BTKi acalabrutinib versus ibrutinib in patients with R/R CLL reported acalabrutinib noninferiority, improved cardiac safety, and fewer discontinuations due to AEs.³⁹ Thus, although the mechanisms of ibrutinib-associated toxicities have not been fully elucidated, the selectivity that is engineered into next-generation BTKis appears to translate into improved tolerability for these agents in studies to date.

Further studies are needed to address the relative merits of next-generation BTKis as well as answer questions regarding optimal sequence, combination versus single-agent use, and duration of therapy. Current evidence is insufficient to identify a BTKi of choice, leaving the benefits and harms of each agent to be weighed by the clinician in choosing the most appropriate therapy.

Numerous phase 3 studies of zanubrutinib are now underway, which will begin to address these important issues. These include SEQUOIA (TN CLL/SLL), ALPINE (R/R CLL/SLL), MANGROVE (TN and stem cell transplant–ineligible older MCL), and ASPEN (TN and R/R WM). These and other ongoing and planned trials worldwide will be critical for determining the place of zanubrutinib in the treatment of B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders.

Footnotes

Acknowledgements

This work, including medical writing and editorial assistance, was supported by BeiGene USA, Inc. Writing and editorial support were provided by Robert Rydzewski, MS, CMPP, and submission support was provided by Laura Leistikow, BFA, both of Bio Connections, LLC (Chicago, IL), supported by BeiGene USA, Inc. (San Mateo, CA).

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Not applicable.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Author contribution(s)

Javier Muñoz: Conceptualization; Writing – original draft; Writing – review & editing.

Yucai Wang: Conceptualization; Writing – original draft; Writing – review & editing.

Preetesh Jain: Conceptualization; Writing – original draft; Writing – review & editing.

Michael Wang: Conceptualization; Writing – original draft; Writing – review & editing.

ORCID iD

Javier Muñoz

Funding

The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: JM reports consultancy role with, research funding from, and speakers’ bureau for Pharmacyclics, Bayer, Gilead/Kite Pharma, Janssen, and Celgene; consultancy role with Pfizer, Alexion, Fosunkite, Innovent, Debiopharm, Epizyme, Karyopharm, and Genmab; consultancy role with Juno/Celgene; consultancy role with and speakers’ bureau for Bristol Myers Squibb, BeiGene; consultancy role with, honoraria from, and speakers’ bureau for Kyowa; consultancy role with, research funding from, honoraria from, and speakers’ bureau for Seattle Genetics; research funding from Merck, Portola, Incyte, and Millennium; research funding from and speakers’ bureau for Genentech; speakers’ bureau for Acrotech/Aurobindo, Verastem, AstraZeneca, Roche, and AbbVie. YW reports research funding from, and advisory role with Incyte and Loxo Oncology; research funding from InnoCare, Novartis, and Genentech; advisory role with Eli Lilly and TG therapeutics. PJ reports consultancy role with Eli Lilly, Incyte, Kite, research funding from AstraZeneca. MW reports research funding and honoraria from Acerta Pharma; consultancy role with, research funding, and honoraria from AstraZeneca, BeiGene, Janssen, and Kite Pharma; honoraria from Anticancer Association, CAHON, Chinese Medical Association, Clinical Care Options, Dava Oncology, Hebei Cancer Prevention Federation, Imbruvica, Imedex, Moffit Cancer Center, Mumbai Hematology Group, Newbridge Pharmaceuticals, OMI, Physicians Education Resources (PER), Scripps, and The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University; consultancy role with Bayer Healthcare, CSTone, DTRM Biopharma (Cayman) Limited, and Genentech; research funding from BioInvent, Celgene, and Molecular Templates; consultancy role with and honoraria from Epizyme and Miltenyi Biomedicine GmbH; consultancy role with and research funding from InnoCare, Juno, Loxo Oncology, Oncternal, Pharmacyclics, and VelosBio.

Availability of data and materials

Not applicable.

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