This article reviews an important phase-3, large scale, double arm trial that has just opened for recruiting previously treated patients.  The trial looks to compare CAL-101 + Rituxan vs. Rituxan alone.  Before you sign up, you really, truly need to understand the details of the design of this trial.

This year’s ASH (American Society of Hematology) conference has a number of interesting presentations for CLL patients.  I will be reviewing some of them in the next few days.  This first review deals with CAL-101 single agent study, followed by combination drug studies in a few days.

It is hard not to get carried away by the hype and buzz that has surrounded CAL-101.  But it pays to remember these are early days and there is yet a lot to be learned.  Is the glass half full or half empty?  I guess it depends on your personality type and how you read the latest results of this clinical trial: single agent CAL-101 in previously treated CLL patients.

I have been following the development of CAL-101 – the first generation kinase inhibitor drug to treat CLL – with great interest.  These are exciting but still early days.  Nevertheless, the results published thus far are cause for optimism. Just in time for the Holidays.