Great question to be thinking about ahead of your July appointment! The combination of Calquence (acalabrutinib) and Venetoclax (Venclexta) is actually an exciting development — the FDA recently approved this as the first all-oral, fixed-duration combination therapy for CLL.
Here's what makes this combo work:
- Calquence Show Full Answer
Great question to be thinking about ahead of your July appointment! The combination of Calquence (acalabrutinib) and Venetoclax (Venclexta) is actually an exciting development — the FDA recently approved this as the first all-oral, fixed-duration combination therapy for CLL.
Here's what makes this combo work:
- Calquence blocks a protein called BTK, which slows or stops leukemia cells from growing
- Venetoclax blocks a protein called BCL-2, making it easier for cancer cells to die
Together, they target two different pathways, which can make treatment more effective. Some encouraging results from clinical trials showed:
- The combination reduced the risk of cancer worsening or death by 35% compared to standard treatment
- Fewer deaths were reported in the combination group (6%) vs. standard chemoimmunotherapy (14%)
- Treatment runs for a set period (up to about 14 cycles/just over a year), rather than indefinitely — which can make planning easier It's worth knowing about potential side effects, which can include:
- Low white blood cell counts (neutropenia)
- Headache and diarrhea
- Muscle and bone pain
- Increased infection risk
- Bleeding
Venetoclax also carries a warning for tumor lysis syndrome — a rare but serious situation where cancer cells break down too quickly, which can affect the kidneys. Your care team would monitor closely for this, especially when starting the drug.
Going into your July appointment armed with these questions is a great move — your team can help weigh whether this combination fits your specific situation!
June 18
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