Acalabrutinib
Also sold as: Calquence
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Drug Information
Mechanism of Action
12.1 Mechanism of Action Acalabrutinib is a small-molecule inhibitor of Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK). Acalabrutinib and its active metabolite, ACP-5862, form a covalent bond with a cysteine residue in the BTK active site, leading to inhibition of BTK enzymatic activity. BTK is a signaling molecule of the B cell antigen receptor (BCR) and cytokine receptor pathways. In B cells, BTK signaling results in activation of pathways necessary for B-cell proliferation, trafficking, chemotaxis, and adhesion. In nonclinical studies, acalabrutinib inhibited BTK‑mediated activation of downstream signaling proteins CD86 and CD69 and inhibited malignant B-cell proliferation and tumor growth in mouse xenograft models.
Indications & Uses
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE CALQUENCE is a kinase inhibitor indicated: • In combination with bendamustine and rituximab for the treatment of adult patients with previously untreated mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) who are ineligible for autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). ( 1.1 ) • For the treatment of adult patients with MCL who have received at least one prior therapy. ( 1.2 ) • For the treatment of adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). ( 1.3 ) 1.1 Previously Untreated Mantle Cell Lymphoma CALQUENCE in combination with bendamustine and rituximab is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with previously untreated mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) who are ineligible for autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). 1.2 Previously Treated Mantle Cell Lymphoma CALQUENCE is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with MCL who have received at least one prior therapy. 1.3 Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia or Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma CALQUENCE is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL).
Dosage & Administration
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION • Recommended dose is 100 mg orally approximately every 12 hours; swallow whole with water and with or without food. ( 2.1 ) • Advise patients not to chew, crush, dissolve, or cut tablets. ( 2.1 ) • Manage toxicities using treatment interruption, dose reduction, or discontinuation. ( 2.2 ) • Avoid CALQUENCE in patients with severe hepatic impairment. ( 8.6 ) 2.1 Recommended Dosage CALQUENCE Administration Instructions Advise patients to swallow tablet whole with water. Advise patients not to chew, crush, dissolve, or cut the tablets. CALQUENCE may be taken with or without food. If a dose of CALQUENCE is missed by more than 3 hours, it should be skipped, and the next dose should be taken at its regularly scheduled time. Extra tablets of CALQUENCE should not be taken to make up for a missed dose. CALQUENCE as Monotherapy For patients with MCL, CLL or SLL, the recommended dosage of CALQUENCE is 100 mg taken orally approximately every 12 hours until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. CALQUENCE in Combination with Bendamustine and Rituximab For patients with previously untreated MCL, the recommended dosage of CALQUENCE is 100 mg taken orally approximately every 12 hours until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Start CALQUENCE on Day 1 of Cycle 1 (each cycle is 28 days) and administer until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Administer bendamustine 90 mg/m 2 on Days 1 and 2 and rituximab 375 mg/m 2 on Day 1 of Cycle 1 and continue for a total of 6 cycles. Patients achieving a response (PR or CR) after the first 6 cycles may receive maintenance rituximab on Day 1 of every other cycle for a maximum of 12 additional doses, starting on Cycle 8 up to Cycle 30 [see Clinical Studies (14.1) ] . CALQUENCE in Combination with Obinutuzumab For patients with previously untreated CLL or SLL, the recommended dosage of CALQUENCE is 100 mg taken orally approximately every 12 hours until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Start CALQUENCE at Cycle 1 (each cycle is 28 days). Start obinutuzumab at Cycle 2 for a total of 6 cycles and refer to the obinutuzumab prescribing information for recommended dosing. Administer CALQUENCE prior to obinutuzumab when given on the same day 2.2 Recommended Dosage for Drug Interactions Dosage Modifications for Use with CYP3A Inhibitors or Inducers These are described in Table 1 [see Drug Interactions (7) ]. Table 1: Recommended Dosage Modifications for Use with CYP3A Inhibitors or Inducers CYP3A Co-administered Drug Recommended CALQUENCE use Inhibition Strong CYP3A inhibitor Avoid co-administration. If these inhibitors will be used short-term (such as anti‑infectives for up to seven days), interrupt CALQUENCE. After discontinuation of strong CYP3A inhibitor for at least 24 hours, resume previous dosage of CALQUENCE. Moderate CYP3A inhibitor Reduce the CALQUENCE 100 mg every 12 hours dosage to 100 mg once daily. Induction Strong CYP3A inducer Avoid co-administration. If co-administration is unavoidable, increase CALQUENCE dosage to 200 mg approximately every 12 hours. 2.3 Dosage Modifications for Adverse Reactions Recommended dosage modifications of are provided in Table 2 and 3. Table 2: Recommended Dosage Modifications for Adverse Reactions in Patients Receiving CALQUENCE Monotherapy and CALQUENCE in Combination with Obinutuzumab Event Adverse Reaction Occurrence Dosage Modification (Starting dose = 100 mg approximately every 12 hours) Grade 3 or greater non-hematologic toxicities, Grade 3 thrombocytopenia with bleeding, Grade 4 thrombocytopenia or Grade 4 neutropenia lasting longer than 7 days First and Second Interrupt CALQUENCE. Once toxicity has resolved to Grade 1 or baseline level, CALQUENCE may be resumed at 100 mg approximately every 12 hours. Third Interrupt CALQUENCE. Once toxicity has resolved to Grade 1 or baseline level, CALQUENCE may be resumed at a reduced frequency of 100 mg once daily. Fourth Discontinue CALQUENCE. Adverse reactions graded by the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI CTCAE). Table 3: Recommended Dosage Modifications for Adverse Reactions in Patients Receiving CALQUENCE in Combination with BR Adverse Reaction Severitya Dosage Modification (Starting dosage of CALQUENCE = 100 mg approximately every 12 hours) Neutropenia b [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)] Absolute neutrophil count less than 0.5 x 109/L for greater than 7 days Interrupt CALQUENCE. Once toxicity has resolved to Grade ≤ 2, resume CALQUENCE at starting dosage. Upon 2 nd or 3 rd occurrence, reduce dosage of CALQUENCE to 100 mg once daily. c Discontinue CALQUENCE at 4 th occurrence. For bendamustine b : Interrupt bendamustine. Once toxicity has resolved to Grade ≤ 2, resume bendamustine and consider dosage reduction to 70 mg/m 2 . d,e Thrombocytopenia f [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)] Platelet count 25 to 50 x 109/L with clinically significant bleeding or platelet count less than 25 x 109/L
Side Effects (Adverse Reactions)
6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following clinically significant adverse reactions are discussed in greater detail in other sections of the labeling: • Serious and Opportunistic Infections [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] • Hemorrhage [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] • Cytopenias [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] • Second Primary Malignancies [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] • Cardiac Arrhythmias [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] • Hepatotoxicity, including DILI [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) ] The most common adverse reactions (≥ 30%), excluding laboratory abnormalities, are diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infection, headache, musculoskeletal pain, lower respiratory tract infection, and fatigue. The most common Grade 3 or 4 laboratory abnormalities (≥ 10%) are absolute neutrophil count decreased, absolute lymphocyte count decreased, platelets decreased, and hemoglobin decreased. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact AstraZeneca at 1-800-236-9933 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. The data in the Warnings and Precautions reflect exposure to CALQUENCE 100 mg approximately every 12 hours in 1,764 patients with hematologic malignancies. Treatment includes CALQUENCE monotherapy in 1,256 patients in 9 trials, and CALQUENCE combinations in 508 patients in 3 trials. Among these recipients of CALQUENCE, 88% were exposed for at least 6 months and 80% were exposed for at least one year. In this pooled safety population, adverse reactions in ≥ 30% of 1,764 patients, excluding laboratory abnormalities, were diarrhea (37%), upper respiratory tract infection (36%), headache (35%), musculoskeletal pain (33%), lower respiratory tract infection (32%), and fatigue (32%). The most common grade 3 or 4 laboratory abnormalities (≥10%) were absolute neutrophil count decreased (31%), absolute lymphocyte count decreased (23%), platelets decreased (11%), and hemoglobin decreased (10%). Previously Untreated Mantle Cell Lymphoma The safety data described below reflect exposure to CALQUENCE (100 mg approximately every 12 hours, with or without BR) in patients with MCL [see Clinical Studies (14.1) ] . ECHO The safety of CALQUENCE in combination with bendamustine and rituximab (CALQUENCE plus BR) was evaluated in 297 patients with previously untreated MCL in ECHO [see Clinical Studies (14.1) ] . The trial enrolled patients with previously untreated MCL, ≥ 65 years of age with no intention for transplant, total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 × ULN, AST or ALT ≤ 2.5 × ULN, and estimated creatinine clearance of > 50 mL/min. Patients received 6 cycles (as 28-day cycles) of CALQUENCE 100 mg orally twice daily (n = 297) or placebo (n = 297) in combination with bendamustine and rituximab. Patients then received CALQUENCE 100 mg orally twice daily or placebo continuously until progressive disease or unacceptable toxicity, with 12 additional dosages of rituximab every other cycle up to Cycle 30. The median duration of treatment with CALQUENCE was 28.6 months. A total of 171 (57.6%) patients were treated with CALQUENCE for ˃ 24 months and 122 (41.1%) patients were treated for ˃ 36 months. Serious adverse reactions occurred in 69% of patients who received CALQUENCE plus BR. Serious adverse reactions reported in ≥ 2% of patients were pneumonia (23%; includes COVID-19 pneumonia), COVID-19 (20%; includes COVID-19 pneumonia), pyrexia (6%), second primary malignancy (7%), rash (3.4%), febrile neutropenia (3.4%), atrial fibrillation (3%), sepsis (2.7%), and anemia (2.4%). Fatal adverse reactions that occurred within 30 days of the last study treatment were reported in 12% who received CALQUENCE plus BR including COVID-19 (6%; includes COVID-19 pneumonia), pneumonia (1%), sepsis (0.3%), second primary malignancy (0.7%), and pneumonitis (0.3%). Adverse reactions led to permanent discontinuation of CALQUENCE in 43%, dosage interruptions in 74%, and dosage reductions in 10% of patients. Adverse reactions that resulted in dosage modification in > 10% included infections, cytopenias, rashes, and gastrointestinal toxicity. Adverse reactions which resulted in permanent discontinuation of CALQUENCE in ≥ 4% of patients included COVID-19 (includes COVID-19 pneumonia) and neutropenia. Table 4 and Table 5 summarize select adverse reactions and laboratory abnormalities observed in patients treated in ECHO. Table 4: Adverse Reactions* (≥ 15%) in Patients with Previously Untreated MCL Who Received CALQUENCE plus BR in ECHO Body System Adverse Reactions* CALQUENCE plus BR N = 297 Placebo plus BR N = 297 All Grades (%) Grade 3 or 4 (%) All Grades (%) Grade 3 or 4 (%) Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders Rash a 47 12 31 3 Infections COVID-19 b
Drug Interactions
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS • Strong CYP3A Inhibitors : Avoid co-administration with CALQUENCE. ( 2.2 , 7 ) • Moderate CYP3A Inhibitors : Reduce the dosage of CALQUENCE. ( 2.2 , 7 ) • Strong CYP3A Inducers : Avoid co-administration with CALQUENCE. If co-administration is unavoidable, increase the dosage of CALQUENCE. ( 2.2 , 7 ) 7.1 Effect of Other Drugs on CALQUENCE Strong CYP3A Inhibitors Clinical Effect Co-administration of CALQUENCE with a strong CYP3A inhibitor increased acalabrutinib plasma concentrations [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Increased acalabrutinib concentrations may result in increased toxicity. Prevention or Management Avoid co-administration of CALQUENCE with strong CYP3A inhibitors. Alternatively, if the inhibitor will be used short-term, interrupt CALQUENCE [see Dosage and Administration (2.2) ]. Moderate CYP3A Inhibitors Clinical Effect Co-administration of CALQUENCE with a moderate CYP3A inhibitor may increase acalabrutinib plasma concentration [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Increased acalabrutinib concentrations may result in increased toxicity. Prevention or Management Reduce the dosage of CALQUENCE when co-administered with a moderate CYP3A inhibitor [see Dosage and Administration (2.2) ]. Strong CYP3A Inducers Clinical Effect Co-administration of CALQUENCE with a strong CYP3A inducer decreased acalabrutinib plasma concentration [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Decreased acalabrutinib concentrations may reduce CALQUENCE activity. Prevention or Management Avoid co-administration of CALQUENCE with strong CYP3A inducers. If co-administration is unavoidable, increase the dosage of CALQUENCE [see Dosage and Administration (2.2) ].
Contraindications
4 CONTRAINDICATIONS None. None. ( 4 )
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Data sourced from RxNorm (NLM/NIH), FDA Orange Book, OpenFDA, DailyMed. Last updated: 2026-03-02.