The New England Journal of MedicineZanubrutinib or Ibrutinib in Relapsed or Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

In this multinational, phase 3, head-to-head trial (ALPINE), patients who received zanubrutinib — a Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor with greater specificity– rather than the BTK inhibitor ibrutinib, had significantly longer progression-free survival in individuals with relapsed or refractory CLL or SLL, and zanubrutinib was linked to fewer cardiac side events.