Pirtobrutinib for previously treated Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor naïve mantle cell lymphoma

Pirtobrutinib is in clinical development for the treatment of previously treated Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor-naïve mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) in adults. MCL is a rare and aggressive blood cancer that starts in white blood cells (B cells) in the outer edge of the lymph nodes. The abnormal white blood cells start to collect in the lymph nodes or body organs, where they can form painless tumours and begin causing problems within the lymphatic system or the organ where they are growing. MCL is not a curable lymphoma but, in most cases, treatment can put the condition into remission. However, MCL can come back after months or years and, in some cases, treatment might be ineffective. Once MCL has come back, it becomes more difficult to treat and patients deteriorate at an increasing pace. There is a need for novel treatments to improve disease control in patients with MCL.