Can three targeted drugs tame an aggressive blood cancer?
NCT ID NCT04271956
First seen Aug 20, 2026 · Last updated Aug 21, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This phase 2 trial is testing whether a combination of three targeted drugs—zanubrutinib, tislelizumab, and sonrotoclax—can effectively treat Richter transformation, a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer that can arise in people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The study will enroll about 83 adults with confirmed CLL and Richter transformation who have not been treated for RT or who responded to or couldn't tolerate first-line RT therapy. Participants will receive the drug combination, and researchers will measure how many achieve a complete or partial response, as well as monitor safety and side effects.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- A combination of three targeted drugs: zanubrutinib (a BTK inhibitor), tislelizumab (a PD-1 inhibitor), and sonrotoclax (a Bcl-2 inhibitor).
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this combination could offer a new, less toxic treatment option for Richter transformation, potentially improving response rates and survival without the need for intensive chemotherapy.
- What could go wrong
- This is a phase 2 trial, so the combination may not prove effective or safe in a larger population. The drugs can cause significant side effects, including immune-related reactions and blood cell abnormalities.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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About 83 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Feb 2020
- Expected to finish
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Aug 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Confirmed diagnosis of CLL according to iwCLL criteria (Hallek et al, 2018) 2. Confirmed histopathological diagnosis of RT (diffuse large B-cell lymphoma or Hodgkin's lymphoma \[Hodgkin's lymphoma only when not eligible for more in-tensive treatment\]) 3. Previously untreated RT or patients with objective response or non-tolerance to first-line RT treatment 4. Adequate bone marrow function as defined by: * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1000/mm3, except for patients with bone marrow involvement in which ANC must be ≥ 500/mm3 * Platelet ≥ 75,000/mm3, except for patients with bone marrow involvement in which the platelet count must be ≥ 30,000/mm3 5. Creatinine clearance ≥30ml/min calculated according to the modified formula of Cockcroft and Gault or directly measured with 24hr urine collection or an equivalent method. 6. 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/RT or to Gilbert's Syndrome, in which case a max. total bilirubin ≤ 3 x and AST/ALT ≤ 5 x the institutional ULN value are required. 7. Negative serological testing for hepatitis B (HBsAg negative and anti-HBc nega-tive; patients positive for anti-HBc may be included if PCR for HBV DNA is negative and HBV-DNA PCR is performed every two months until 2 months af-ter last dose of zanubrutinib), negative testing for hepatitis-C RNA and negative HIV test within 6 weeks prior to registration 8. Age at least 18 years 9. ECOG performance status 0-2, ECOG 3 is only permitted if related to CLL or RT (e.g. due to anaemia or severe constitutional symptoms) 10. Life expectancy ≥ 3 months 11. Ability and willingness to provide written informed consent and to adhere to the study visit schedule and other protocol requirements Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patients who did not respond to previous line of RT therapy (i.e. primary progressive patients) 2. Patients with more than one prior line of RT therapy 3. Allogenic stem cell transplantation within the last 100 days or signs of active GVHD after prior allogeneic stem cell transplantation within any time 4. Patients with confirmed PML 5. Uncontrolled autoimmune condition 6. Malignancies other than CLL currently requiring systemic therapies (unless the malignant disease is in a stable remission at the discretion of the treating phy-sician) 7. Uncontrolled infection currently requiring systemic treatment 8. Any comorbidity or organ system impairment rated with a CIRS (cumulative ill-ness rating scale) score of 4, excluding the eyes/ears/nose/throat/larynx organ system , or any other life-threatening illness, medical condition or organ system dysfunction that - in the investigator´s opinion could comprise the patients safety or interfere with the absorption or metabolism of the study drugs 9. Requirement of therapy with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors/ inducers 10. Requirement of therapy with phenprocoumon or other vitamin K antagonists. 11. Known active infection with HIV, or serologic status reflecting active hepatitis B or C infection as follows: * Presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) or hepatitis B core anti-body (HBcAb). Patients with presence of HBcAb, but absence of HBsAg, are eligible if hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA is undetectable (\< 20 IU), and if they are willing to undergo monitoring every 4 weeks for HBV reactivation. * Presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody. Patients with presence of HCV antibody are eligible if HCV RNA is undetectable. 12. Major surgery within 4 weeks of the first dose of study drug. 13. Any uncontrolled or clinically significant cardiovascular disease including the following: * Myocardial infarction within 6 months before screening * Unstable angina within 3 months before screening * New York Heart Association class III or IV congestive heart failure * History of clinically significant arrhythmias (eg, sustained ventricular tachy-cardia, ventricular fibrillation, torsades de pointes) 14. History of severe bleeding disorder such as hemophilia A, hemophilia B, von Willebrand disease, or history of spontaneous bleeding requiring blood trans-fusion or other medical intervention 15. History of stroke or intracranial hemorrhage within 6 months before first dose of study drug 16. Severe or debilitating pulmonary disease 17. Unable to swallow capsules or disease significantly affecting gastrointestinal function such as malabsorption syndrome, resection of the stomach or small bowel, bariatric surgery procedures, symptomatic inflammatory bowel disease, or partial or complete bowel obstruction 18. Use of investigational agents, e.g. monoclonal antibodies or other experimental drugs within clinical trials, which might interfere with the study drug within 28 days (or 5 times half-life \[t1/2\] of the compound, whichever is longer) prior to registration 19. Known hypersensitivity to tislelizumab, zanubrutinib, sonrotoclax or any of the excipients 20. Pregnant women and nursing mothers (a negative pregnancy test is required for all women of childbearing potential within 7 days before start of treatment) 21. Fertile men or women of childbearing potential unless: * surgically sterile or ≥ 2 years after the onset of menopause, or * willing to use two methods of reliable contraception including one highly ef-fective contraceptive method (Pearl Index \<1) and one additional effective (barrier) method during study treatment and for 6 months after the end of study treatment. 22. Vaccination with a live vaccine \<28 days prior to randomization 23. Legal incapacity 24. Prisoners or subjects who are institutionalized by regulatory or court order 25. Persons who are in dependence to the sponsor or an investigator
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
11 sites in 3 countries. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Allgemeines Krankenhaus der Stadt Wien
RECRUITINGVienna, 1090, Austria
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Brüderkrankenhaus St. Josef Paderborn
RECRUITINGPaderborn, 33098, Germany
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Charité Berlin
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGBerlin, State of Berlin, 12203, Germany
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H.O.T Praxis Landshut
RECRUITINGLandshut, 84036, Germany
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Rigshospitalet
RECRUITINGCopenhagen, 2100, Denmark
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Uniklinik Köln
RECRUITINGCologne, 50937, Germany
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Universitätsklinik Ulm
RECRUITINGUlm, 89081, Germany
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Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus
RECRUITINGDresden, 01307, Germany
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Universitätsklinikum Essen
RECRUITINGEssen, 45147, Germany
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Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel
RECRUITINGKiel, 24105, Germany
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Universitätsmedizin Rostock
RECRUITINGRostock, 18057, Germany
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