AbbVie Reports Nine-Year Outcomes for Venetoclax in CLL Treatment

Patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) showed sustained long-term benefits from a fixed-duration regimen of venetoclax combined with obinutuzumab, according to final data from the Phase 3 CLL14 trial presented at the European Hematology Association 2026 Congress in Stockholm.

The final analysis of the CLL14 study, conducted in collaboration with the German CLL Study Group, highlights the durability of the venetoclax-based combination. After a median follow-up of 9.2 years, patients treated with the regimen achieved a median progression-free survival of 6.4 years, compared to 3.2 years for those receiving obinutuzumab plus chlorambucil. The trial results emphasize a median time to next treatment of approximately 8 years, offering participants extended periods off therapy.

"The nine-year results affirm the enduring safety and efficacy of this approach," said Daejin Abidoye, vice president of oncology at AbbVie. The study enrolled 432 patients with coexisting medical conditions, comparing the experimental combination against the standard chlorambucil-based therapy. While the treatment demonstrated significant clinical success, researchers noted that common Grade 3 adverse events included neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and pneumonia, consistent with the known safety profile of the medication.