Ibrutinib is among the newer oral medications approved for treatment of CLL. It is a BTK inhibitormeaning it targets abnormal cells.
According to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines, ibrutinib (Imbruvica) and acalabrutinib (Calquence) with/without obinutuzumab (Gazyva) are the preferred first treatment for all previously untreated patients.
Read More Common side effects reported with Ibrutinib are increased risk of bleeding or bruising, atrial fibrillation (rapid heart rate), diarrhea, joint aches, rash and high blood pressure. Although these side effects have all been reported by patients using the medication, most patients only experience one or two. It is also possible for patients to have no toxicities from treatment, and feel like they are not on treatment at all. The biggest issue many patients have with Ibrutinib, says Dr. Nicole Lamanna, a leukemia specialist at Columbia University Medical Center, is that it’s a chronic medication, so patients could be on it for years and may find it hard to take a daily pill for so long. Dr. Matthew Davids, the associate director of the CLL Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute also contributed to this video.
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