Efficacy

Efficacy of Calquence (Acalabrutinib) in Treating Lymphoma

Calquence (acalabrutinib) is a novel medication that has shown efficacy in the treatment of certain types of lymphoma, particularly in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), which is a rare and aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Acalabrutinib is a Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor that blocks BTK signaling, which is essential for the growth and survival of malignant B cells. Clinical trials have demonstrated that acalabrutinib produces a high response rate in patients with relapsed or refractory MCL. The medication has been granted accelerated approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for this indication based on overall response rate, although continued approval may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.

For patients with MCL, acalabrutinib has been shown to be effective both as a monotherapy and in combination with other treatments. Studies have reported that acalabrutinib monotherapy resulted in a significant improvement in progression-free survival compared to alternative standard therapies. The safety profile of acalabrutinib has also been characterized as manageable, with fewer instances of severe bleeding and atrial fibrillation compared to other BTK inhibitors.

Efficacy of Polivy (Polatuzumab Vedotin-piiq) in Treating Lymphoma

Polivy (polatuzumab vedotin-piiq) represents another advancement in the treatment of lymphoma, specifically for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), which is the most common form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Polatuzumab vedotin is an antibody-drug conjugate that targets CD79b, a protein expressed on the surface of B cells, and delivers a potent cytotoxic agent directly to the cancer cells. The FDA granted accelerated approval for Polivy in combination with bendamustine plus rituximab (BR) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL, not otherwise specified, after at least two prior therapies. This approval was based on the results of a pivotal phase II study that showed a significant improvement in complete response rates and overall survival when Polivy was added to BR, compared to BR alone.

The use of Polivy in clinical practice has been associated with improved outcomes in a patient population with very limited treatment options. However, as with many cancer therapies, the benefits of Polivy must be weighed against its potential side effects, and its use is generally reserved for patients who have not responded to or have relapsed after other available treatments. Continued approval for this indication may depend on the verification of clinical benefit in further confirmatory trials.