Chronic Lymphocytic LeukemiaPhase 2NCT07796373
Nemtabrutinib for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)/Small Lymphocytic Leukemia (SLL) Refractory to Covalent Bruton Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor or Pirtobrutinib and Previously Treated With a BCL2 Inhibitor
A Phase 2 study testing Nemtabrutinib in people with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Small Lymphocytic Leukemia, run by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Background: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic leukemia (SLL) are diseases in which the body makes too many white blood cells that do not work properly. Because white cells play a role in immune function, people with CLL/SLL may be at greater risk of infections. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 100 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Small Lymphocytic Leukemia
- What is being tested?
- Nemtabrutinib
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 32 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 28 Oct 2026to 1 Dec 2031
- Phase
- Phase 2
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 100 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:
- Age >=18 years. CLL/SLL is extremely rare in patients < 18 years old.
- Ability to comprehend the investigational nature of the study and provide informed consent
- Confirmed diagnosis of CLL or SLL according to International Workshop on CLL (iwCLL) guidelines
- Coexpression of CD5, CD19, CD20, and CD23 expression and light-chain restriction
- CLL: clonal B-lymphocytosis >=5,000 cells/mL OR SLL: lymphadenopathy with the tissue morphology of CLL but that are not leukemic, <5,000 cells/mL
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- Cohort A: refractoriness to cBTKi defined as lack of response or progressive disease while on therapy
- Cohort B: refractoriness to pirtobrutinib defined as lack of response or progressive disease while on therapy
- Prior treatment with a BCL2i
- Active disease requiring treatment or progressive disease during or after therapy according to iwCLL guidelines
- Measurable disease characterized by >=1 of the following:
- Lymphadenopathy: >=1 lymph node measuring >=1.5 cm in the greatest diameter
- Splenomegaly: spleen measuring >13 cm in craniocaudal length
- Lymphocytosis: >=5,000 B cells/microL
- Bone marrow infiltration: CLL comprising >=30% of all cells
- A female participant is eligible to participate if not pregnant or breastfeeding, and >=1 of the following conditions applies:
- Is not a person of childbearing potential (POCBP)
- OR
- Is a POCBP and
- Uses a contraceptive method
- Has a negative highly sensitive serum pregnancy test within 7 days before the first dose of study intervention.
- The participant has provided documented informed consent for the trial.
- Have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 to 2 within 7 days prior to the first dose of study intervention.
- The ability to swallow and retain oral medication
- Note: Administration of nemtabrutinib is not permitted through a PEG-J tube.
- Participants who are HBsAg positive are eligible if they have received HBV antiviral therapy for >=4 weeks and have undetectable HBV viral load prior to study entry.
- Note: Participants should remain on anti-viral therapy throughout study intervention and follow local guidelines for HBV anti-viral therapy post completion of study intervention. Hepatitis B screening tests should include HBsAg, HBcAb, HBsAb . Hepatitis B screening tests are not required unless:
- Known history of HBV infection
- As mandated by local health authority
- Participants with history of HCV infection are eligible if HCV viral load is undetectable at screening.
- Note: Participants must have completed curative anti-viral therapy >=4 weeks prior to nemtabrutinib initiation.
- Participants with HIV are eligible if they meet ALL of the following criteria:
- The CD4 count is >350 cells/microL at screening
- The HIV viral load is below the detectable level as per locally available testing
- Are on a stable ART regimen for >=4 weeks prior to study entry
- Note: ART includes drugs, which are NOT strong CYP3A4 inducers (participants receiving ART that are strong CYP3A4 inducers are not eligible to be included in the study).
- Are compliant with their ART
- Note: If the participant has had an AIDS defining opportunistic infection in the past 12 months prior to screening, they are not eligible to be included in the study.
- Adequate organ function as defined in the following table. Specimens must be collected within 7 days prior to drug initiation.
- Organ Function Laboratory Values:
- Hematological
- --Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) >=750/microL (or >=500/mircoL in participants with documented bone marrow involvement)
- Platelets >=50,000/mircoL*
- Hemoglobin >=8 g/dL*
- Renal
- Creatinine <=1.5 x ULN OR Measured or calculated creatinine clearance (GFR can also be used in place of creatinine or CrCl) >=30 mL/min for participant with creatinine levels >1.5 x institutional ULN
- Hepatic
- Total bilirubin <=1.5 x ULN OR direct bilirubin <= ULN for participants with total bilirubin levels >1.5 x ULN
- AST (SGOT) and ALT (SGPT) <=2.5 x ULN
- Coagulation
- PT, aPTT <=1.5 x ULN unless participant is receiving anticoagulant therapy
- ALT (SGPT)=alanine aminotransferase (serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase);
- AST (SGOT)=aspartate aminotransferase (serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase);
- ULN=upper limit of normal; INR=international normalized ratio; PT=prothrombin time; aPTT=activated partial thromboplastin time
- Growth factor and/or transfusion support is permissible to meet this requirement if cytopenia is due to bone marrow involvement of CLL
Who cannot join
- The participant must be excluded from the study if the participant meets any of the following criteria:
- Documented CNS involvement
- Active HBV/HCV infection. See Inclusion Criteria 10 (HBV) and 11 (HCV) for requirements.
- Known active cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. Unknown or negative status are eligible.
- Gastrointestinal dysfunction that may affect drug absorption (e.g., gastric bypass surgery, gastrectomy).
- Active, uncontrolled infection requiring systemic therapy, including IV antibiotics during screening. Participants may be rescreened followed completion of IV antibiotic course.
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- Stroke or intracranial hemorrhage within 6 months of screening
- Hypertensive urgency or emergency
- Active, clinically significant cardiovascular disease including:
- Uncontrolled or symptomatic arrhythmias
- Class 3 or 4 congestive heart failure as defined by New York Heart Association Functional Classification
- Myocardial infarction, unstable angina or acute coronary syndrome within 6 months of screening.
- History of Mobitz II second-degree or third-degree heart block without a permanent pacemaker in place.
- QTcF >450 milliseconds based on Fridericia s formula (NOTE: QTcF value may be calculated as the numerical average of up to 3 separate readings for eligibility).
- Known allergy/sensitivity to nemtabrutinib or any of the excipients (hypromellose acetate succinate, microcrystalline cellulose, mannitol, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, and may include film coat).
- History of severe bleeding disorders defined as an ongoing congenital or acquired condition that leads to an increased likelihood of bleeding.
- Known additional malignancy that is progressing or has required active treatment within the past 2 years.
- Note: Participants with basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, or carcinoma in situ, excluding carcinoma in situ of the bladder, that have undergone potentially curative therapy are not excluded. Participants with low-risk, early-stage prostate cancer (T1-T2a, Gleason score <=6, and PSA <10 ng/mL), either treated with definitive intent or untreated in active surveillance with stable disease, are not excluded.
- Currently being treated with the following drugs:
- P-gp substrates with a narrow therapeutic index
- CYP3A strong inducers
- CYP3A strong inhibitors
- Note: A washout period of at least 5 times the half-life after the last dose of any of the above treatments is required for a participant to be eligible for study enrollment.
- Has received prior systemic anti-CLL therapy within 3 half-lives or 4 weeks (if prior therapy was a monoclonal antibody) of start of nemtabrutinib.
- Has received prior radiotherapy within 2 weeks of start of nemtabrutinib or radiation-related toxicities requiring corticosteroids.
- Note: Two weeks or fewer of palliative radiotherapy for non-CNS disease, with a 1-week washout, is permitted.
- Has received a live vaccine or live-attenuated vaccine within 30 days before the first dose of nemtabrutinib. Administration of killed vaccines are allowed.
- Patients requiring ongoing treatment with warfarin within 7 days of start of nemtabrutinib
- Enrolled on another therapeutic clinical trial for CLL/SLL at the start of nemtabrutinib. Concurrent enrollment on another therapeutic clinical trial or any trial designed to impact the efficacy of anticancer therapy is prohibited.
- Has active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years except replacement therapy (e.g., thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid)
- Has not adequately recovered after 4 weeks from major surgery or has ongoing surgical complications.
- Note: Biopsy and placement of central venous access devices are not considered major surgery.
- Has known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the trial.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland, 20892
NIH Clinical Center Office of Patient Recruitment (OPR), 800-411-1222 ext. TTY dial 711, ccopr@nih.gov
About this study
Background:
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic leukemia (SLL) are diseases in which the body makes too many white blood cells that do not work properly. Because white cells play a role in immune function, people with CLL/SLL may be at greater risk of infections. CLL/SLL can be controlled with drugs, but many people develop resistance, and the treatments stop working.
Read more
Objective:
To test a new drug (nemtabrutinib) in people with CLL/SLL.
Eligibility:
People aged 18 years or older with CLL/SLL that persists despite treatment.
Design:
Participants will be screened. They will have imaging scans, blood and urine tests, and a test of their heart function. They will have a bone marrow biopsy: a sample of tissue and fluids will be drawn from inside their hip bone. They may also have a sample cut from a swollen lymph node, if one is safe to access.
Nemtabrutinib is a tablet taken by mouth. Participants will take the drug once a day at home in 4-week cycles. They will have clinic visits at least every 4 weeks for the first 6 months and then every 3 months after that.
Biopsies, imaging exams, and other tests may be repeated at these visits. Participants may also undergo lymphapheresis: Blood will be drawn from a tube inserted into a vein. The blood will pass through a machine that separates out cancer and immune cells. The remaining blood will be returned to the body through a different tube.
Participants may stay in the study as long as the drug is helping them.
Read the detailed description
Study Description:
This is a phase 2 study of nemtabrutinib for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) refractory to treatment with covalent Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi) or pirtobrutinib, and previously treated with B-cell lymphoma 2 inhibitor (BCL2i). Subjects will be treated with nemtabrutinib 65 mg by mouth once daily until disease progression or toxicity. Efficacy will be evaluated separately in CLL/SLL refractory to covalent BTKi (cBTKi) and in CLL/SLL refractory to pirtobrutinib. Efficacy will also be evaluated in molecular subgroups based on BTK and PLCG2 mutations, IGHV mutational status, and cytogenetic abnormalities. The pharmacodynamic effects of nemtabrutinib on tumor and immune cells will be assessed in peripheral blood, lymph node, and bone marrow. Clonal shifts during treatment with nemtabrutinib will be described.
For the purposes of this protocol, the term "CLL" will be used throughout to refer collectively to chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), unless otherwise specified.
Objectives:
Primary Objectives:
- Evaluate the efficacy of nemtabrutinib in CLL refractory to cBTKi and previously treated with BCL2i
- Evaluate the efficacy of nemtabrutinib in CLL refractory to pirtobrutinib and previously treated with BCL2i
Secondary Objectives:
- Evaluate the efficacy of nemtabrutinib in CLL with and without BTK and PLCG2 mutations
- Evaluate the efficacy of nemtabrutinib in CLL prognostic risk groups
Exploratory Objectives:
- Characterize the pharmacodynamic effects of nemtabrutinib on tumor and immune cells
- Understand clonal shifts during treatment with nemtabrutinib
- Identify potential biomarkers predictive of response to nemtabrutinib
Endpoints:
Primary Endpoints:
- Overall response rate (ORR) to nemtabrutinib in CLL refractory to cBTKi and previously treated with BCL2i
- ORR to nemtabrutinib in CLL refractory to pirtobrutinib and previously treated with BCL2i
Secondary Endpoints:
- Progression-free survival (PFS) and time to response (TTR) during treatment with nemtabrutinib in CLL refractory to cBTKi and previously treated with BCL2i
- PFS and TTR during treatment with nemtabrutinib in CLL refractory to pirtobrutinib and previously treated with BCL2i
- ORR, PFS, and TTR in BTK and PLCG2 wild-type and mutated CLL
- ORR, PFS, and TTR based on IGHV mutational status and cytogenetic abnormalities
Exploratory Endpoints:
- Gene expression profiling in tumor and immune cells from peripheral blood, lymph node, and bone marrow during treatment with nemtabrutinib
- Targeted or whole genome/exome sequencing of tumor cells during treatment with nemtabrutinib
- Association between ORR, PFS, and potential biomarkers (e.g., molecular, serum)
- Overall survival (OS) during treatment with nemtabrutinib in CLL refractory to cBTKi and previously treated with BCL2i
- OS during treatment with nemtabrutinib in CLL refractory to pirtobrutinib and previously treated with BCL2i
- Being tested
- Nemtabrutinib
- Keywords
- BTK Inhibitor, Pirtobrutinib, nemtabrutinib, BCL2 inhibitor, relapsed/refractory CLL
- Medical subject headings
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell, Recurrence
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
NemtabrutinibDrug
Nemtabrutinib 65 mg will be given orally once daily in 28-day cycles and continue treatment until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or another discontinuation criterion is met.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment | Experimental | Nemtabrutinib 65 mg will be given orally once daily in 28-day cycles. Receives: Drug: Nemtabrutinib |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Overall response rate (ORR)
ORR is defined as the proportion of subjects who achieve partial response (PR) or better, including partial response with lymphocytosis (PRL), as their best response. ORR will be evaluated separately in each cohort:CLL/SLL refractory to covalent BTK inhibitor (cBTKi) and previously treated with a BCL2 inhibitor and CLL/SLL refractory to pirtobrutinib and previously treated with a BCL2 inhibitor.
Measured: After 6 cycles of nemtabrutinib
Secondary outcomes (3)
Progression-free survival (PFS) and time to response (TTR)
Progression-free survival (PFS) and time to response (TTR) during treatment with nemtabrutinib will be evaluated separately in each cohort: CLL/SLL refractory to covalent BTK inhibitor (cBTKi) and previously treated with a BCL2 inhibitor and CLL/SLL refractory to pirtobrutinib and previously treated with a BCL2 inhibitor
Measured: PFS - time of disease progression or death from any cause; TTR - time to partial remission or better
ORR, PFS, and TTR in BTK and PLCG2 wild-type and mutated CLL
PFS is measured from the first day of treatment until the first sign of disease progression or death from any cause. TTR is measured from the first day of treatment until the first occurrence of partial remission or better. Response-based endpoints (including ORR) are evaluated after 6 cycles for the primary response assessment, with ongoing assessments during treatment and follow-up as specified in the schedule of activities.
Measured: PFS - time to first sign of disease progression or death; TTR - time to partial remission or better; ORR - after 6 cycles with ongoing assessments.
ORR, PFS, and TTR based on IGHV mutational status and cytogenetic abnormalities
PFS is measured from the first day of treatment until the first sign of disease progression or death from any cause. TTR is measured from the first day of treatment until the first occurrence of partial remission or better. Response-based endpoints (including ORR) are evaluated after 6 cycles for the primary response assessment, with ongoing assessments during treatment and follow-up as specified in the schedule of activities.
Measured: PFS - time to first sign of disease progression or death; TTR - time to partial remission or better; ORR - after 6 cycles with ongoing assessments.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted1 Sep 2026
- Study start28 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion1 Dec 2030 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Dec 2031 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Chronic Lymphocytic LeukemiaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)The sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 32 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Sponsor type
- US National Institutes of Health
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Laura S Samples, M.D., Principal investigator, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07796373
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 10002165
- Other IDs
- 002165-H
- Status last verified
- 25 Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 29 Aug 2026
- Last updated
- 23 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No