ASH 2025

Othman Al-Sawaf MD PhD, a hematologist from University Hospital of Cologne, presents early data from the CLL17 international phase three trial at ASH 2025. The findings indicate that fixed-duration treatment with venetoclax plus obinutuzumab or venetoclax plus ibrutinib is non-inferior to continuous ibrutinib for patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia, potentially becoming the preferred treatment.

This podcast episode, recorded at ASH 2025, features an interview with María-Victoria Mateos MD PhD, who discusses groundbreaking findings from the Majestec-3 study. The study highlights unprecedented survival benefits with the BCMA/CD3 bispecific antibody teclistamab. In patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, adding teclistamab to standard second-line therapies significantly improved progression-free and overall survival.

An interview with Amir Fathi MD from Massachusetts General Hospital discusses the Paradigm study presented at ASH 2025. The phase two randomized trial found that young, fit adults with acute myeloid leukemia had improved event-free survival and higher response rates with azacitidine/venetoclax initial therapy. This gentler treatment also led to fewer toxicities and better quality of life compared to standard induction chemotherapy.

Dr. Jennifer A. Woyach discusses promising phase III study findings at ASH 2025, revealing that the non-covalent BTK inhibitor pirtobrutinib is as effective as ibrutinib, while demonstrating less toxicity, in patients with relapsed/refractory and treatment-naïve chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma. This first randomized head-to-head comparison shows pirtobrutinib met its primary endpoint of non-inferiority for overall response rate.

Meletios Dimopoulos MD, Chair of Clinical Therapeutics at the University of Athens, discusses early findings from the phase 1b LINKER-MM2 trial presented at ASH 2025. The study reveals high clinical response rates for the B-Cell Maturation Antigen bispecific antibody linvoseltamab when combined with anti-CD38 therapy in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. These preliminary safety and efficacy data support further development of this promising combination for MM treatment.