CLL Global Research Foundation

09/04/2026

September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month, the perfect time to raise awareness not only about advances in CLL treatment, but also about the importance of supporting patients throughout every stage of their journey.

In this interview, Dr. Kerry Rogers discusses why supportive care remains essential during active treatment, watch and wait, remission, and the time between treatments. Infection prevention, vaccinations, recommended cancer screenings, and emotional well-being can all help people with CLL protect their health and quality of life.

Read the full interview:

In an interview with Blood Cancers Today, Kerry Rogers, MD, of The Ohio State University, discussed how clinicians can integrate supportive care across the different phases of CLL.

08/19/2026

Exciting news in cancer research!

Moderna and Merck announced today that their personalized mRNA cancer vaccine, combined with the immunotherapy Keytruda, significantly reduced the risk of melanoma returning or spreading compared with Keytruda alone in a large Phase 3 clinical trial. Detailed results are still to come, but the study met both its primary and key secondary endpoints.

For the vaccine, scientists sequence a patient's tumor to identify mutations unique to their cancer. An individualized mRNA vaccine is then created to teach the immune system to recognize and attack cells carrying those mutations. Keytruda helps by releasing an immune-system "brake," allowing immune cells to better target the cancer.

People with CLL have an increased risk of developing second cancers, including melanoma and other skin cancers. While this vaccine is not currently a treatment for CLL or specifically for second cancers in CLL patients, the Phase 3 results provide important evidence that personalized mRNA technology can successfully help the immune system fight cancer.

As people with CLL live longer, preventing and successfully treating second cancers is an increasingly important part of long-term care. We’ll be watching closely as this promising technology continues to advance.

Intismeran autogene plus pembrolizumab improved recurrence-free survival and distant metastasis–free survival in resected stage IIB to IV melanoma.

08/04/2026

This wonderful article by Jackie Broadway-Duren details how nurse Sarah Velasquez's expertise, thoroughness, and patient advocacy make her an essential member of her patients' care team.

"Velasquez has demonstrated the ability to combine her knowledge and experience with a true sense of patient care and responsiveness that has made a positive difference in helping me through two years of treatment." — Robert Coriale, patient

To all the nurses, advanced practice providers, pharmacists, patient navigators, social workers, research coordinators, and others who care for people with CLL, thank you for making such a meaningful difference every day.

Sarah Velasquez, BSN, RN, OCN, of MD Anderson Cancer Center, goes above and beyond for her chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients through thorough communication and proactive advocacy.

07/29/2026

Missed our Patient-Focused Research Symposium last week? No worries, you can still catch all of the presentations!

Click below to hear from leading CLL experts as they discuss the latest research, emerging treatment strategies, and promising clinical trials focused on high-risk CLL and Richter transformation.

https://vimeo.com/1211780125?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci During our July 2026 Patient-Focused Research Symposium, panelists shared insights from their latest research — funded by CLL Global Research Foundation — and showcased how their work is directly improving outcomes for patients with chronic lym...

07/17/2026

There's still time to register for our Patient-Focused Research Symposium!

Join leading CLL experts as they discuss the latest research, emerging treatment strategies, and promising clinical trials focused on high-risk CLL and Richter transformation, two of the most challenging and rapidly evolving areas of CLL care.

Tuesday, July 21, 2026
4:00 PM CT
(5:00 PM ET | 2:00 PM PT)

Don't miss this opportunity to hear directly from CLL Global-funded investigators and learn how today's research is shaping tomorrow's treatments.

07/10/2026

You're Invited!

Join the CLL Global Research Foundation for our first Patient-Focused Research Symposium of the year. This free virtual event will focus on high-risk CLL and Richter transformation—two of the most challenging and rapidly evolving areas of CLL research.

Hear directly from leading CLL Global-funded investigators as they share the latest scientific discoveries, emerging treatment strategies, and innovative approaches that are shaping the future of CLL care.

Tuesday, July 21, 2026
4:00–5:15 PM Central
(2:00 PM PT | 5:00 PM ET)

Featured Speakers:

Jennifer Woyach, MD
The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – The James
Whole Genome Doubling (Tetraploidy) in CLL and Richter Transformation

Catherine J. Wu, MD
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Targeting CLL with Cancer Vaccines

Erin Parry, MD, PhD
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Defining the Evolution and Dynamics of CLL Transformation

Constantine Tam, MBBS (Hons), MD
Alfred Health and Monash University
Progress in Resistant CLL and Richter Transformation

This complimentary event is open to patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and anyone interested in the latest advances in CLL research. Click the link below to register!

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_YU8U38xnSbCbs2abJi9YRQ #/registration

Upcoming Events: CLL Global’s Patient-Focused Research Symposium Tuesday, July 21, 2026 at 4 PM CT (5 PM ET; 2 PM PT) Join us for a Patient-Focused Research Symposium, featuring chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) experts from around the world. Panelists will share insights from their latest resear...

07/07/2026

EHA2026 CLL Highlight

A promising new approach to treating CLL was presented at EHA 2026 with updated results for bexobrutideg (NX-5948), an investigational BTK degrader.

Unlike current BTK inhibitors, which block the BTK protein, bexobrutideg is designed to remove (degrade) both normal and mutated forms of BTK, offering a potential strategy to overcome resistance that can develop with existing BTK inhibitors.

In the ongoing Phase 1a/b study:
* High overall response rates (83–87%) were observed across multiple patient groups, including those previously treated with BTK inhibitors and BCL2 inhibitors, as well as BTK inhibitor-naïve patients.

* Responses were durable in patients with the longest follow-up (median progression-free survival of 22.1 months in the Phase 1a cohort).

* The treatment continued to demonstrate a favorable safety profile, with most side effects being mild to moderate.

While additional studies are needed, BTK degraders represent an exciting new class of targeted therapies that may expand treatment options for patients with CLL, particularly those whose disease has become resistant to current BTK inhibitors.

Access educational materials, eLearning activities, accredited Live webinar sessions with polls and chat on this fast Digital Library and Hybrid Virtual Event Platform powered by MULTILEARNING LMS.

07/04/2026

Happy 250th Birthday, America! 🇺🇸

Today, we also celebrate a very special birthday for our President, Dr. Bill Wierda. Please join us in wishing him a wonderful birthday and thanking him for his outstanding leadership, dedication to advancing CLL research, and commitment to improving the lives of patients around the world.

Happy Birthday, Dr. Wierda, and Happy Independence Day!

07/01/2026

Please join us in wishing our founder, Dr. Michael Keating, a very happy 83rd birthday!

Dr. Keating's vision, leadership, and unwavering dedication to advancing CLL research have transformed the lives of countless patients around the world.

Happy Birthday, Dr. Keating!

06/30/2026

EHA2026: Sonrotoclax + Zanubrutinib Study Highlights

New results from a phase 1/1b study suggest that the investigational combination of sonrotoclax (a next-generation BCL-2 inhibitor) and zanubrutinib may offer a highly effective, fixed-duration treatment option for people with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL).

Among patients treated at the recommended dose:

- 100% responded to treatment.
- More than 90% achieved undetectable measurable residual disease (uMRD), a marker of deep treatment response.
- No disease progression was observed after a median follow-up of more than 34 months.
- High uMRD rates were seen even in patients with higher-risk disease, including those with del(17p)/TP53 abnormalities and unmutated IGHV.

The treatment was generally well tolerated, with no cases of tumor lysis syndrome and few patients discontinuing therapy because of side effects.

While these results are very encouraging, this was an early-phase study without a comparison group. Larger, randomized clinical trials will be needed to determine whether this combination offers advantages over current standard treatments.

Updated phase 1/1b BGB-11417-101 trial data showed sonrotoclax 320 mg plus zanubrutinib achieved uMRD4 rates exceeding 90% in treatment-naive CLL/SLL.