CLL Global Research Foundation

05/29/2026

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting is one of the world’s leading cancer research conferences, where physicians and researchers share the latest advances in cancer care and treatment. This year, we are excited to see CLL Global President and CEO Dr. William G. Wierda presenting data on the targeted therapy pirtobrutinib in patients with previously untreated CLL/SLL.

In two international phase 3 clinical trials, pirtobrutinib demonstrated strong and durable responses in patients receiving treatment for the first time:

* 93% overall response rate
* More than 93% of patients remained progression-free at 24 months
* More than 97% overall survival at 24 months

Researchers also reported encouraging safety findings, including low rates of atrial fibrillation and hypertension, side effects that can be concerns with some BTK inhibitors.

These results continue to highlight the progress being made toward more effective and well-tolerated treatment options for people living with CLL.

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we pause to honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.

From all of us at CLL Global Research Foundation, we wish you a safe and meaningful Memorial Day.

05/21/2026

CLL Global will be accepting Letters of Intent for our next research grant cycle from June 1–21, 2026.

Our Scientific Advisory Board has identified several key areas of focus aimed at improving outcomes and accelerating progress for CLL patients, including:

🔬 Understanding why the immune system stops working properly in CLL — and how to restore it
🔬 Improving immune-based treatments and overcoming treatment resistance
🔬 Learning how CLL begins and progresses in order to support earlier detection and prevention
🔬 Developing new therapies and treatment combinations for patients whose disease no longer responds to current treatments
🔬 Advancing research in Richter transformation and other high-risk forms of CLL

We look forward to reviewing the next big ideas in CLL research and continuing to support innovative work that brings us closer to better treatments — and ultimately, a cure.

05/18/2026

Did you miss our inaugural CLL Global Patient-Focused Research Symposium on November 14, 2025? Don’t worry — plans are already underway for our next symposium, coming in summer 2026, with a special focus on Richter transformation.

Want a preview of what’s to come? Watch this video from last November featuring Dr. Alessandra Ferrajoli from UT MD Anderson as she discusses the importance of health maintenance and preventive care for CLL patients — an especially important topic as patients are living longer than ever before.

This presentation is part of CLL Global Research Foundation’s first-ever Patient-Focused research symposium featuring CLL Global–funded researchers sharing insights...

05/15/2026

New results from the CLL-321 trial are providing encouraging news for people living with CLL whose disease has previously been treated with a BTK inhibitor.

In the study, patients receiving pirtobrutinib stayed in remission longer compared with standard treatment options.

Key highlights:
• Patients taking pirtobrutinib had a median progression-free survival of about 14 months, compared with 8.7 months for standard therapies
• Time before needing another treatment was significantly longer — about 24 months vs. 10.9 months
• Benefits were seen even in patients with high-risk disease features such as TP53 abnormalities and del(17p)
• More than half of patients had already received prior venetoclax, highlighting the effectiveness of pirtobrutinib in heavily pretreated patients

The treatment was also generally well tolerated, with low rates of heart-related side effects such as atrial fibrillation and hypertension.

These results continue to highlight the progress being made toward more effective treatment options for patients with relapsed or difficult-to-treat CLL.

Phase 3 results: pirtobrutinib boosts PFS, delays next treatment after prior BTK therapy, and shows low cardiac toxicity.

05/12/2026

Please join us in congratulating Dr. William G. Wierda, CLL Global President and CEO, on his induction into the OncLive Giants of Cancer Care® Class of 2026!

This prestigious honor recognizes leaders whose research and clinical expertise are transforming cancer care and improving outcomes for patients. Selected by a committee of more than 115 leading oncologists and prior honorees, this recognition reflects Dr. Wierda’s lasting impact on advancing CLL research and treatment.

We are incredibly proud to celebrate this well-deserved achievement and his continued leadership in the fight against CLL.

https://www.onclive.com/view/giants-of-cancer-care-announces-the-14th-annual-class-of-inductees

05/08/2026

Hear from Dr. Natalia Timofeeva as she shares how CLL Global funding is helping scientists understand how CLL cells survive by changing the way they use energy—an important step toward better treatments for patients.

https://vimeo.com/1182800154 At the 2026 CLL Global Research Foundation Alliance Meeting, Dr. Natalia Timofeeva discussed ongoing research into the metabolism of leukemia cells, and shared her perspective on the positive impact of CLL Global Research Foundation funding. Guest Natalia Timofeeva, MD,....

05/06/2026

We recently hosted our annual CLL Global Alliance Meeting in Houston, Texas. While travel disruptions required a shift to a hybrid format for some attendees, the collaborative spirit of the meeting remained strong.

The energy was high as leading clinicians and researchers shared cutting-edge clinical and translational advances supported by CLL Global funding, sparking thoughtful discussion and new ideas to move the field forward.

04/29/2026

Encouraging Progress in CLL Treatment!

In the BRUIN CLL-322 study, a combination that included pirtobrutinib alongside venetoclax and rituximab helped patients stay in remission longer compared to standard therapy.

What this means:
Patients had longer progression-free survival (more time without the disease worsening)

Benefits were seen even in people who had prior BTK inhibitor treatment

Treatment was time-limited (up to 2 years)—an important option for those who prefer not to stay on therapy indefinitely

Side effects were similar to current treatments, with no unexpected safety concerns

While overall survival results are still developing, early trends are encouraging.

This study highlights a growing shift toward effective, fixed-duration treatment options that give patients more flexibility and a better quality of life.

Pirtobrutinib plus venetoclax and rituximab improved PFS in relapsed/refractory CLL/SLL, meeting the primary end point of BRUIN CLL-322.

04/23/2026

Promising news for people living with CLL!

A new study highlights the benefits of combining Acalabrutinib + Venetoclax—an all-oral treatment approach that may make a meaningful difference in patients’ day-to-day lives.

Why it matters:
• Fewer clinic visits compared to regimens like Obinutuzumab + venetoclax
• Strong outcomes: In the AMPLIFY trial, patients saw a 3-year progression-free survival rate of 83%
• Well tolerated: Serious infections (grade 3+) occurred in 12.4% of patients

This all-oral combination offers not just effectiveness, but also added convenience—an important step toward improving quality of life for those navigating CLL treatment.

Jennifer R. Brown, MD, PhD, discusses the FDA approval of acalabrutinib plus venetoclax for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and how it improves QOL.

04/01/2026

As we reflect on the meaning of freedom and resilience, we wish all who celebrate a meaningful Passover. Chag Sameach.