Magic pills: new oral drugs to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Introduction: A deeper understanding of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) biology has led to the identification of new promising therapeutic targets. Different classes of molecules are currently under investigation and novel oral drugs have recently been approved or are in a late stage of clinical development.

Areas covered: We present biological data illustrating the heterogeneous mechanisms of action of new oral drugs in CLL. Moreover, we provide clinical data from phase I to III studies, and discuss efficacy and side effects profile of these new therapies. Data are derived from peer-reviewed articles indexed in PubMed and from abstracts presented at major international meetings.

Expert opinion: Novel oral drugs represent a valuable alternative to chemo-immunotherapy for patients with CLL, especially when high-risk disease features are present and when age or comorbidities preclude the use of standard treatments. Based on data from ongoing clinical trials, the indications of already approved agents will most likely be expanded and new options will soon be available. Moreover, treatment combinations will broaden the therapeutic armamentarium of physicians treating CLL. The availability of multiple choices is of benefit for patients with CLL, but also represents a challenge for the need of choosing the right drug for each patient.