What is Zydelig used for and how does it work?
In the United States, Zydelig is approved to treat relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in combination with rituximab, where rituximab is appropriate to use taking into account other health conditions a person may have.
In other countries, such as the European Union, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Switzerland, Zydelig is also approved to treat relapsed follicular B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (FL). Zydelig initially also received accelerated approval to treat FL and relapsed small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) in the U.S. in 2014 but this approval was contingent upon further research which has been unable to be undertaken and so approval for these two indications (FL and SLL) in the U.S. was voluntarily withdrawn by the company, Gilead Sciences, Inc., in 2022.
Zydelig cannot be used for first-line treatment of any patient with cancer, including CLL, SLL, FL, or indolent non-Hodgkin lymphomas; it is only approved for relapsed CLL in the United States. It should also not be used if bendamustine is being given with rituximab.
How does Zydelig work?
Zydelig works by blocking the effects of an enzyme called PI3K-delta which enables the growth, migration, and survival of white blood cells but is overactive in blood cancers. By blocking the effects of this enzyme, Zydelig causes the cancer cells to die which delays or stops the progression of the cancer.
References
- Zydelig (idelalisib) [Prescribing Information] Updated 03/Gilead Sciences, Inc. https://www.drugs.com/pro/zydelig.html
- Gilead Statement on Zydelig® U.S. Indication for Follicular Lymphoma and Small Lymphocytic Leukemia Foster City, Calif., January 14, 2022
- Gilead https://www.gilead.com/news-and-press/company-statements/gilead-statement-on-zydelig-us-indication-for-follicular-lymphoma-and-small-lymphocytic-leukemia#:~:text=Zydelig%C2%AE%20(idelalisib)%20is%20approved,therapy%20due%20to%20other%20comorbidities.
- Zydelig (idelalisib) European Medicines Agency https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/overview/zydelig-epar-medicine-overview_en.pdf
Read next
Is Zydelig a chemotherapy drug?
Zydelig (idelalisib) is not a chemotherapy drug, but a targeted anticancer treatment taken twice daily by mouth. Targeted drug therapies like Zydelig work by blocking specific pathways that allow the cancer to grow uncontrolled. Zydelig is used in combination with rituximab (Rituxan) to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Continue reading
What is the success rate of Rituxan (rituximab) in patients with blood cancers?
In patients with hematological or blood cancers, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), Rituxan’s success is measured in a number of ways. It is measured by looking at how long patients responded to treatment (median duration of response), how long they live without their disease progressing (progression-free survival) and how many patients respond to treatment (response rate).
Rituxan treatment improves outcomes in certain patients with NHL. Adding Rituxan alongside standard therapies enhances the response patients have to treatment and improves overall outcomes, including increasing the time patients live for without experiencing a progression of their disease.
Rituxan helps to improve overall survival in certain patients with CLL and also helps to increase the time patients live for without experiencing disease progression. Adding Rituxan alongside standard therapy enhances the response patients have to therapy. Continue reading
Is Venclexta (venetoclax) chemotherapy?
Venclexta (venetoclax) is a targeted treatment rather than a type of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is defined as a drug treatment that kills fast-growing cells in your body. Venclexta works by binding to a specific protein called BCL-2 which is overexpressed on cancerous cells in people with cancers such as AML and CLL. By binding to this protein Venclexta kills cancerous CLL and AML lymphocytes, in preference to other fast-growing cells. Continue reading
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