New Hope on the Horizon: How Advanced Therapies are Reshaping the Fight Against Blood Cancer

NORTH CHICAGO, IL – December 02, 2025 – For thousands of individuals and families navigating the complexities of a blood cancer diagnosis, the word "progress" is not an abstract concept—it is a lifeline. This week, new hope emerged from the forefront of medical research as pharmaceutical leader AbbVie unveiled a wealth of promising data, set to be presented at the upcoming 2025 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Congress. These findings signal significant strides in treating some of the most challenging blood cancers, including follicular lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and multiple myeloma, offering not just new treatment options, but new paradigms for patient care.

The upcoming presentations highlight a sophisticated, multi-pronged strategy against these diseases. By advancing a diverse pipeline of therapies—from T-cell engagers that harness the body's own immune system to targeted inhibitors and "smart bomb" antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs)—researchers are developing more personalized and effective ways to combat the unique biology of each cancer. For patients, this translates into the potential for more durable remissions, better quality of life, and in some cases, the profound gift of a finite treatment course with a clear finish line.

A New Standard for Relapsed Follicular Lymphoma

One of the most significant breakthroughs comes from the Phase 3 EPCORE FL-1 trial, which evaluated EPKINLY® (epcoritamab-bysp) for patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) follicular lymphoma (FL). Follicular lymphoma is a slow-growing but often incurable type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. While initial treatments can be effective, patients frequently relapse, and each subsequent line of therapy tends to be less successful.

The trial tested EPKINLY, a T-cell engager, in combination with the standard R2 regimen (rituximab and lenalidomide). The results were striking. The combination reduced the risk of disease progression or death by an incredible 79% compared to the standard R2 treatment alone. Furthermore, an astonishing 95.7% of patients on the EPKINLY combination responded to the treatment, with nearly 75% achieving a complete response—meaning no detectable signs of cancer.

This therapy works by acting as a bridge, connecting the patient's own T-cells (a type of immune cell) directly to the cancerous B-cells, empowering the immune system to recognize and destroy the cancer. The data is so compelling that the FDA has already granted Priority Review for this combination, signaling its potential to become a new standard of care for patients who have relapsed after their first therapy. While the treatment carries risks, including higher rates of infection and a potential for Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS), a common side effect with immunotherapies, the study reported that these events were low-grade and manageable, a critical consideration for patient well-being.

Rethinking Treatment: The Power of a Finish Line in CLL

For patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), another common blood cancer, treatment has often meant a continuous, lifelong commitment to therapy. This can bring a heavy burden of persistent side effects, financial strain, and the psychological weight of being perpetually "in treatment." The interim results from the Phase 3 CLL17 trial, however, are challenging this paradigm.

The study compared two fixed-duration treatment regimens featuring VENCLEXTA® (venetoclax) against the continuous use of ibrutinib, a current standard of care. After a median follow-up of over 34 months, the study found that the fixed-duration venetoclax combinations were "non-inferior" to continuous ibrutinib. In simple terms, patients could achieve similar, excellent outcomes while being able to stop their treatment after a predetermined period.

This concept of a "treatment-free interval" is a monumental step forward in patient-centered care. It offers the prospect of returning to a life not defined by daily pills and regular clinic visits. For the CLL community, this represents a major improvement in quality of life, allowing the body and mind to recover from the rigors of therapy. It demonstrates a pivotal shift in oncology from simply managing cancer to providing durable remissions that allow patients to truly live well beyond their diagnosis.

Attacking Aggressive Cancers from Multiple Angles

Beyond refining existing treatments, AbbVie’s research also showcases powerful new weapons against some of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat blood cancers. Two investigational therapies, etentamig and pivekimab sunirine (PVEK), are showing remarkable promise in patient populations with limited options.

For patients with heavily pretreated multiple myeloma, a cancer that becomes progressively harder to treat with each relapse, etentamig offers new hope. In a Phase 1b study, this investigational T-cell engager, when combined with other therapies, achieved an 81% overall response rate. This is particularly impressive given these patients had already been through at least three prior lines of therapy. Etentamig is designed to bind to cancer cells and T-cells with a specific affinity that may reduce the risk of severe CRS, a potentially life-threatening side effect of some immunotherapies. This focus on balancing powerful efficacy with a manageable safety profile is key to making these advanced therapies viable for more patients.

Meanwhile, for newly diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) patients who are unfit for intensive chemotherapy, the outlook has historically been grim. PVEK, a first-in-class antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), is poised to change that. An ADC acts like a guided missile, combining a targeting antibody with a potent cancer-killing payload, delivering it directly to cancer cells while sparing healthy ones. In a study combining PVEK with other agents, the regimen achieved a 63.3% complete response rate in this vulnerable patient group. This high rate of success in a population with few effective options highlights a critical advance in care. The momentum for PVEK is building, as AbbVie also recently submitted it to the FDA for approval in a different rare blood cancer, underscoring its potential.

These advancements, taken together, paint a vivid picture of a new era in hematology. The move toward targeted, fixed-duration, and immune-harnessing therapies is not just an incremental improvement; it is a fundamental shift in how we approach blood cancer. By developing a diverse toolkit of medicines designed to address the unique complexities of each disease, the medical community is better equipped than ever to provide treatments that are not only more effective, but also more aligned with the ultimate goal: helping people live longer, healthier, and fuller lives. The data from ASH 2025 provides a powerful affirmation that progress for people is not just a mission, but a tangible reality unfolding in clinics and labs around the world.