Ibrutinib Monotherapy Versus Fixed-duration Venetoclax Plus Obinutuzumab Versus Fixed-duration Ibrutinib Plus Venetoclax in Patients with Previously Untreated Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL)

The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of continuous ibrutinib monotherapy with fixed-duration venetoclax plus obinutuzumab and fixed-duration ibrutinib plus venetoclax by measuring progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with previously untreated CLL.


Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Documented CLL requiring treatment according to iwCLL criteria.
2. Age at least 18 years.
3. Life expectancy ≥ 6 months.
4. Ability and willingness to provide written informed consent and to adhere to the study visit schedule and other protocol requirements.
5. Adequate bone marrow function independent of growth factor or transfusion support within 2 weeks of screening initiation as follows, unless cytopenia is due to CLL:

   1. Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1.0 × 109/L
   2. Platelet counts ≥ 30 × 109/L; in cases of thrombocytopenia clearly due to CLL (per the discretion of the investigator), platelet count should be ≥ 10 × 109/L
   3. Total haemoglobin ≥ 8 g/dL (without transfusion support, unless anaemia is due to CLL)
6. GFR \>30ml/min directly measured with 24hr urine collection, calculated according to the modified formula of Cockcroft and Gault (for men: GFR ≈ ((140 - age) x bodyweight)/ (72 x creatinine), for women x 0, 85) or an equally accurate method.

   a. For patients with creatinine values within the normal range the calculation of the clearance is not necessary. Dehydrated patients with an estimated creatinine clearance less than 30 ml/min may be eligible if a repeat estimate after adequate hydration is \> 30 ml/min.
7. Adequate liver function as indicated by a total bilirubin ≤ 2 x, AST/ ALT ≤ 2.5 x the institutional ULN value, unless directly attributable to the patient's CLL or to Gilbert's Syndrome.
8. Negative serological testing for hepatitis B (HbsAg negative and anti-HBc negative; patients positive for anti-HBc may be included if PCR for HBV DNA is negative and HBV-DNA PCR is performed every month/every three months if persistently negative until 12 months after last treatment cycle), and for hepatitis C (anti-HCV-ab negative; in case of positive HCV anti-body test, negative HCV-PCR is required).
9. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG) performance status 0-2.

Exclusion criteria:

1. Any prior CLL-specific therapies (except corticosteroid treatment administered due to necessary immediate intervention; within the last 10 days before start of study treatment, only dose equivalents up to 20 mg prednisolone are permitted).
2. Transformation of CLL (Richter transformation). When Richter transformation is suspected, PET-CT and/or biopsy should be performed to rule out transformation.
3. Patients with a history of PML.
4. An individual organ/ system impairment score of 4 as assessed by the CIRS definition limiting the ability to receive the study treatment or any other life-threatening illness, medical condition or organ system dysfunction that, in the investigator´s opinion, could compromise the patients' safety or interfere with the absorption or metabolism of the study drugs (e.g. inability to swallow tablets or impaired resorption in the gastrointestinal tract).
5. Malignancies other than CLL currently requiring systemic therapies, not being treated with curative intent before (unless the malignant disease is in a stable remission due to the discretion of the treating physician or showing signs of progression after curative treatment.
6. Uncontrolled or active infection.
7. Patients with known infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
8. Requirement of therapy with strong CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 inhibitors/ inducers (incl. up to 7 days prior to study treatment start).
9. Anticoagulant therapy with warfarin, phenprocoumon or other vit-amin K antagonists (alternative anticoagulation is allowed (e.g. DOACs), but patients must be properly informed about the potential risk of bleeding under treatment with ibrutinib).
10. History of stroke or intracranial hemorrhage within 6 months prior to registration for study screening.
11. Known bleeding disorders
12. Child B / C liver cirrhosis
13. Use of investigational agents which might interfere with the study drug within 28 days prior to registration for study screening.
14. Vaccination with live vaccines 28 days prior to registration for study screening.
15. Major surgery less than 30 days before start of study treatment.
16. History of severe allergic or anaphylactic reactions to humanized or murine monoclonal antibodies, known sensitivity or allergy to murine products.
17. Known hypersensitivity to any active substance or to any of the excipients of one of the drugs used in the trial.
18. Pregnant women and nursing mothers (a negative pregnancy test is required for all women of childbearing potential within 7 days before start of study treatment; further pregnancy testing will be performed monthly).
19. Fertile men or women of childbearing potential unless:

    1. surgically sterile or ≥ 2 years after the onset of menopause
    2. willing to use two methods of reliable contraception including one highly effective contraceptive method (Pearl Index \<1) and one additional effective (barrier) method during study treatment and for 18 months after the end of study treatment.
20. Legal incapacity.
21. Prisoners or subjects who are institutionalized by regulatory or court order.
22. Persons who are in dependence to the sponsor or an investigator.