Matching-adjusted indirect comparison of asciminib versus other treatments in chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia after failure of two prior tyrosine kinase inhibitors

PurposeThe current standard of care for chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CP-CML) is tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Treatment recommendations are unclear for CP-CML failing >= 2 lines of treatment, partly due to the paucity of head-to-head trials evaluating TKIs. Thus, matching-adjusted indirect comparisons (MAICs) were conducted to compare asciminib with competing TKIs in third- or later line (>= 3L) CP-CML.MethodsIndividual patient-level data for asciminib (ASCEMBL; follow-up: >= 48 weeks) and published aggregate data for comparator TKIs (ponatinib, nilotinib, and dasatinib) informed the analyses. Major molecular response (MMR), complete cytogenetic response (CCyR), and time to treatment discontinuation (TTD) were assessed, where feasible.ResultsAsciminib was associated with statistically significant improvements in MMR by 6 (relative risk [RR]: 1.55; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02, 2.36) and 12 months (RR: 1.48; 95% CI: 1.03, 2.14) vs ponatinib. For CCyR, the results vs ponatinib were similar by 6 (RR: 1.11; 95% CI: 0.81, 1.52) and 12 months (RR: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.73, 1.28). Asciminib was associated with improvements in MMR by 6 months vs dasatinib but with a CI overlapping one (RR 1.52; 95% CI: 0.66, 3.53). Asciminib was associated with statistically significant improvements in CCyR by 6 (RR: 3.57; 95% CI: 1.42, 8.98) and 12 months (RR: 2.03; 95% CI: 1.12, 3.67) vs nilotinib/dasatinib. Median TTD was unreached for asciminib in ASCEMBL. However, post-adjustment asciminib implied prolonged TTD vs nilotinib and dasatinib, but not vs ponatinib.ConclusionThese analyses demonstrate favorable outcomes with asciminib versus competing TKIs, highlighting its therapeutic potential in >= 3L CP-CML.

Automated summary

The current standard of care for CP-CML is TKIs, but treatment recommendations for patients failing >= 2 lines of treatment are unclear. This study compared asciminib with other TKIs in >= 3L CP-CML through matching-adjusted indirect comparisons. The results showed favorable outcomes with asciminib, suggesting its therapeutic potential in this patient population.