Benzinga | Jun 14, 2021 07:32AM EDT

JNJ's Imbruvica, AbbVie's Venclexta Combo Achieves Progression-Free Survival Of 78.4% Versus Gazyva-Chemo Cocktail In Leukemia Patients

* A combination of Johnson & Johnson's (NYSE:JNJ) Imbruvica and AbbVie Inc (NYSE:ABBV) - Roche Holding AG's (OTC:RHHBY) Venclexta/Venclyxto (venetoclax) slashed the risk of cancer progression or death by 78.4% compared with a cocktail of Roche's Gazyva and the chemotherapy chlorambucil in previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) patients.

* The phase 3 GLOW trial data were shared at the European Hematology Association (EHA) annual meeting.

* In the preliminary analysis of the GLOW trial, at three months after treatment ended, 51.9% of the Imbruvica-Venclexta combo patients had undetectable measurable residual disease (uMRD), stringent marker reflecting no signs of cancer in bone marrow, versus 17.1% for the control group.

* The rates for peripheral blood were 54.7% and 39% for the two groups, respectively.

* From the three-month point onward, 84.5% of uMRD patients maintained that deep remission in the blood to the 12-month assessment.

* The complete response rate was also significantly higher with Imbruvica-Venclexta combo vs. Gazyva and chlorambucil (38.7% vs. 11.4%).

* The overall response rate was not significantly different between both arms. Time to subsequent therapy was longer for the Imbruvica-Venclexta combo.

* See the abstract here.

* Price Action: JNJ shares closed at $164.96, ABBV closed at $115.42, and RHHBY closed at $47.56 on Friday.