Brukinsa Gains Another Approval in Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

The FDA recently expanded the use of BeiGene, Ltd.’s Brukinsa (zanubrutinib) to include its use in the treatment of a hematologic cancer. The agent is already approved for three other rare types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Respondents to a Zitter Insights survey said that while its availability will result in a lower level of unmet need in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), there is still moderate or high unmet need for the condition.

On Jan. 1, the FDA expanded the label of Brukinsa to include the treatment of adults with CLL or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). CLL and SLL are the same disease, a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, except CLL cancer cells are mostly in the blood and bone marrow, while in SLL, the cells are mainly in the lymph nodes. CLL is the most common adult leukemia.