MedPath

Pirtobrutinib

Generic Name
Pirtobrutinib
Brand Names
Jaypirca
Drug Type
Small Molecule
Chemical Formula
C22H21F4N5O3
CAS Number
2101700-15-4
Unique Ingredient Identifier
JNA39I7ZVB
Background

Pirtobrutinib is a small molecule and a highly selective non-covalent inhibitor of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK). Its high selectivity has been associated with lower discontinuation rates due to adverse events and a lower incidence of atrial fibrillation. Unlike BTK covalent inhibitors, such as ibrutinib, that bind to the cysteine 481 (Cys481) amino acid within the active site of BTK, the inhibitory activity of pirtobrutinib is maintained even in the presence of Cys481 mutations. Although the mechanisms of resistance to covalent BTK inhibitors have not been fully elucidated, it appears that the presence of Cys481 mutations is the most common reason for resistance to covalent BTK inhibitors. However, other mutations may confer resistance to non-covalent BTK inhibitors such as pirtobrutinib.

In January 2023, the use of pirtobrutinib for the treatment of relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) after at least two lines of systemic therapy was approved under the FDA's Accelerated Approval pathway.

Indication

Pirtobrutinib is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) after at least two lines of systemic therapy, including a BTK inhibitor.

Associated Conditions
Refractory Mantle Cell Lymphoma, Relapsed Mantle Cell Lymphoma

Promising Pipeline for Mantle Cell Lymphoma Treatment: 22+ Therapies Under Development by 20+ Companies

• DelveInsight's latest report reveals a robust pipeline with 20+ companies developing 22+ therapies for mantle cell lymphoma, highlighting significant advancement in treatment options for this rare blood cancer. • Recent approvals include AstraZeneca's CALQUENCE® (acalabrutinib) combination therapy for previously untreated MCL patients ineligible for stem cell transplantation, marking an important treatment milestone. • Key emerging therapies include Venetoclax (AbbVie), ADI-001 (Adicet Bio), and BGB-11417 (BeiGene), with multiple compounds targeting novel mechanisms of action across various clinical development stages.

Verastem Oncology to Present New LGSOC Treatment Data at SGO 2025 Annual Meeting

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FDA Grants Second Fast Track Designation to Innovent's IBI363 for Advanced Squamous NSCLC Treatment

• Innovent's IBI363, a first-in-class PD-1/IL-2α-bias bispecific antibody, received FDA Fast Track Designation for treating advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer after immunotherapy and chemotherapy failure. • Clinical trials showed promising results with 50% objective response rate in the 3 mg/kg dose group and effectiveness regardless of PD-L1 expression levels, suggesting potential benefits for cold tumors. • The drug demonstrated encouraging disease control rate of 88.9% and favorable safety profile, offering hope for patients with limited treatment options after immunotherapy failure.

Eli Lilly Reports Doubled Q4 Profits Driven by Surging Obesity and Diabetes Drug Sales

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EMA Recommends Approval for New Cancer Treatments and Vaccines

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Acalabrutinib Receives FDA Approval for Previously Untreated Mantle Cell Lymphoma

• The FDA has granted traditional approval to acalabrutinib in combination with bendamustine and rituximab for untreated MCL patients ineligible for stem cell transplant. • The approval was based on the ECHO trial, which showed a 27% reduction in disease progression or death compared to chemoimmunotherapy alone. • Median progression-free survival was 66.4 months with acalabrutinib versus 49.6 months with chemoimmunotherapy, demonstrating a clinically significant improvement. • Acalabrutinib is now the first and only BTK inhibitor approved for first-line MCL treatment, offering a new option for this rare and aggressive cancer.

Third-Generation CAR T-Cell Therapy Shows Promise in Relapsed/Refractory CLL

• A phase 1/2 study of HD-CAR-1, a third-generation CAR T-cell therapy, demonstrates encouraging response rates in heavily pretreated CLL patients. • Six of nine patients (67%) achieved complete remission (CR) three months post-treatment, with 83% showing undetectable minimal residual disease. • With a median follow-up of 27 months, the progression-free survival rate was 30%, and achieving CR correlated with significantly longer PFS (P = .024). • The therapy showed a favorable safety profile, with only one case of grade 3 cytokine release syndrome and no neurotoxicity observed.

Breyanzi Plus Ibrutinib Shows Promise in High-Risk CLL Patients

• Data from the TRANSCEND CLL 004 study reveals an 86% objective response rate in relapsed/refractory CLL/SLL patients treated with Breyanzi and Ibrutinib. • The combination therapy demonstrated a median duration of response of 41.4 months and a 45% complete remission rate in treated patients. • Breyanzi, already approved for CLL/SLL after BTK and BCL2 inhibitor failure, may see improved efficacy when combined with Ibrutinib. • BMS's Breyanzi, projected to reach $2.6 billion in sales by 2030, is also being evaluated with AbbVie's Venclexta for enhanced outcomes.

ASH 2024: Advances in Leukemia, Sickle Cell Disease, and Multiple Myeloma Therapies

• Lilly's Jaypirca demonstrated superior efficacy in relapsed/refractory CLL patients previously treated with BTK inhibitors, nearly doubling the time to disease progression compared to older regimens. • AstraZeneca's Calquence, combined with Venclexta, reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 35% in previously untreated CLL, offering a potential alternative to chemoimmunotherapy. • Pfizer's withdrawal of Oxbryta for sickle cell disease raised concerns about safety monitoring and data transparency, prompting discussions on appropriate endpoints for regulatory approvals. • Bristol Myers Squibb presented promising Phase 1 data for arlo-cel, a CAR-T therapy targeting GPRC5D in multiple myeloma, showing high response rates in heavily pre-treated patients.

Year in Review: Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

This year marked significant advancements in the treatment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), including the first FDA approval of CAR T-cell therapy for CLL, promising treatments for Richter transformation, and the exploration of triplet regimens. Additionally, updates on drug pricing and labeling changes were noted, alongside new data on treatment efficacy and safety.

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Acalabrutinib Plus Venetoclax Significantly Improves PFS in Untreated CLL

• The phase 3 AMPLIFY trial demonstrated that acalabrutinib plus venetoclax, with or without obinutuzumab, significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) in treatment-naive CLL patients. • The doublet and triplet regimens reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 35% and 58%, respectively, compared to chemoimmunotherapy. • The highest rates of undetectable minimal residual disease (uMRD) were observed in patients treated with the triplet regimen of acalabrutinib, venetoclax, and obinutuzumab. • The combination provides a chemotherapy-free, fixed-duration option for previously untreated CLL, offering improved outcomes and flexibility in managing the disease.

Rilzabrutinib Shows Promise in Phase 3 Trial for Immune Thrombocytopenia

• Rilzabrutinib demonstrated a durable platelet response in 23% of ITP patients, compared to 0% with placebo, meeting the primary endpoint of the LUNA 3 trial. • Patients receiving rilzabrutinib were approximately three times more likely to achieve a platelet response than those on placebo. • The trial also met key secondary endpoints, including reduced bleeding, decreased need for rescue therapy, and improved physical fatigue and quality of life. • Rilzabrutinib is currently under regulatory review in the US and the EU, with a target FDA action date of August 29, 2025.

Eli Lilly's Zepbound Demonstrates Superior Weight Loss Compared to Novo Nordisk's Wegovy in Head-to-Head Trial

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Novel Therapies Show Promise in Relapsed/Refractory CLL After BTK Inhibitor and Venetoclax Failure

• Emerging data highlight the increasing need for effective treatments for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients who progress after covalent BTK inhibitors and venetoclax. • Lisocabtagene ciloleucel (liso-cel; Breyanzi) has received FDA approval for CLL patients with 2 or more prior lines of therapy, demonstrating a complete response rate in a subset of patients. • BTK degraders like BGB-16673 and NX-5948 are showing promising early results in relapsed/refractory CLL, including those with BTK mutations, with manageable safety profiles. • Bispecific antibodies such as epcoritamab-bysp (Epkinly) are also demonstrating encouraging response rates in heavily pre-treated CLL patients, offering a potential new treatment avenue.

Lilly's Jaypirca Shows Promise in BTK Inhibitor-Pretreated CLL/SLL

• Eli Lilly's Jaypirca (pirtobrutinib) demonstrates efficacy in chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) patients pretreated with BTK inhibitors. • Phase 3 BRUIN CLL-321 study evaluates pirtobrutinib versus idelalisib plus rituximab or bendamustine plus rituximab in BTK inhibitor-pretreated CLL/SLL. • Lilly will present real-world data analyses on overall survival associated with treatment sequences in CLL/SLL patients at ASH 2024. • Pre-clinical data for a first-in-class B-cell activating factor receptor (BAFF)-RxCD3 bispecific antibody for B-cell malignancies will also be presented.
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