Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia is a slow-growing leukaemia characterised by the accumulation of dysfunctional B lymphocytes, primarily affecting older adults. Its early stages often present no symptoms, but as the disease progresses, painless lymph node enlargement, fatigue, fever, abdominal pain, night sweats, weight loss, and recurrent infections can occur. Risk factors include age, race, chemical exposure, and family history. Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia has an 87% five-year survival rate for adults aged 20 and older.
Current cases and their treatment
In 2022 there were approximately 490,000 cases of leukaemia worldwide, out of which an estimated 121,000 constituted chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Europe and North America estimated the highest incidences of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cases, followed by Asia and the rest of the world. The country-wise incidence showed variations, with the United States, Germany, China, France, and Italy having the highest estimated number of cases.
The standard approach to treatment includes surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and stem cell transplantation. There are also various marketed drugs from companies such as AbbVie Inc., and Celltrion Inc., along with other options in late-stage development. Marketed drugs like Imbruvica (ibrutinib) targeting BTK and monoclonal antibodies like Zytux (biosimilar rituximab) targeting CD20 represent effective treatments.
Ongoing treatment research offers further promising advancements through targeted therapies like Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) and BCL2 inhibitors, as well as groundbreaking immunotherapies such as CAR T-cell therapy.
Trials and future prospects
Since 2019, the biotech and biopharma industry has initiated over 1,000 chronic lymphocytic leukaemia trials. North America leads in the number of clinical trials conducted, followed by Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the rest of the world. The US led in North America, while Mainland China was prominent in the Asia-Pacific region. Spain and France played major roles in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia trials in Europe, and Israel and Brazil contributed moderately to the rest of the world’s trials. In terms of patient recruitment trends, Asia-Pacific showed shorter recruitment durations in comparison to the US.
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia remains a global health concern, but research and treatment are rapidly evolving, driven by an increased understanding of the complexity of the disease. Ongoing research aims to enhance treatment through innovative therapies and emerging targets like RNA splicing dysregulation and metabolic vulnerabilities in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cells. These advancements provide personalised and effective treatment options for patients. Collaboration among researchers, healthcare providers, and pharmaceutical companies holds promise for further progress in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia care.
About Novotech
Novotech, a global clinical contract research organisation (CRO), has partnered with numerous biotech companies and completed hundreds of oncology projects, including those in immuno-oncology and advanced therapies for indications such as chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. It supports over 5,000 clinical projects across all phases and bioequivalence studies. Recognised for its contributions, Novotech has received the CRO Leadership Award 2023 and has been the Asia-Pacific CRO Company of the Year since 2006.
Discover more about chronic lymphocytic leukaemia research by downloading the free comprehensive disease report below.
