Triple drug cocktail aims to wipe out CLL in first treatment

NCT ID NCT03580928

Ongoing Disease control Sponsor: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This phase 2 study tests a combination of three drugs—acalabrutinib, venetoclax, and obinutuzumab—as an initial treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The goal is to see if this combo can make the cancer undetectable in the bone marrow after 15 cycles of therapy. The study enrolled 72 adults with untreated CLL, including some with a high-risk genetic form. Researchers are measuring how many patients achieve a complete response with no minimal residual disease.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: acalabrutinib, venetoclax, and obinutuzumab (three drugs combined)
What this could lead to: If successful, this three-drug combination could offer a powerful initial treatment for CLL that may achieve deep remissions without the need for ongoing therapy.
What could go wrong: This is a mid-stage trial with only 72 participants, so results may not apply to all CLL patients. The combination also carries risks like infection and bleeding due to its effects on the immune system and blood cells.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA (CLL)

Contacts and locations

Locations

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States
Dana Farber Cancer Institute

Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States
Lifespan Cancer Institute

Providence, Rhode Island, 02903, United States
Stamford Hospital/Bennett Cancer Center

Stamford, Connecticut, 06904, United States

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