ROCKET-CLL Global Phase 3 Study: Rocbrutinib vs Pirtobrutinib in cBTKi-Pretreated R/R CLL/SLL

A Phase 3 Open-Label, Randomized, Multicenter Study of Rocbrutinib (LP-168) vs Pirtobrutinib in Covalent BTK Inhibitor (cBTKi) Pretreated Relapsed or Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) / Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma (SLL) Subjects

This is a Phase 3, randomized, open-label, multicenter study comparing rocbrutinib (LP-168) versus pirtobrutinib in adult participants with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) who have previously received a covalent Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor (cBTKi). Approximately 306 participants will be randomized 1:1 to receive rocbrutinib 200 mg orally once daily or pirtobrutinib 200 mg orally once daily, administered continuously in 28-day cycles until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, withdrawal of consent, or other discontinuation criteria are met. Randomization will be stratified by presence of del(17p)/TP53 mutation (yes/no), reason for discontinuation of prior cBTKi therapy (toxicity vs disease progression), prior exposure to a BCL2 inhibitor (yes/no), and region (United States/China/rest of world). The primary endpoint is progression-free survival (PFS) assessed by an independent review committee (IRC) using iwCLL 2018 criteria for CLL and Lugano 2014 criteria for SLL. Key secondary objectives include overall survival, overall response rate, time-to-event outcomes, and safety/tolerability; exploratory objectives include health-related quality of life and biomarker assessments.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: CLL; CLL (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia); CLL, Relapsed; CLL, Refractory; SLL; SLL (Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma); CLL Progression; CLL / SLL
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Rocbrutinib; Drug: Pirtobrutinib

Detailed Description

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) are indolent B-cell malignancies characterized by accumulation of mature but dysfunctional lymphocytes. Covalent Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors (cBTKis) have substantially improved outcomes for patients with CLL/SLL; however, disease progression on cBTKi therapy or intolerance leading to treatment discontinuation remains an important clinical challenge. Patients who discontinue cBTKi therapy due to progression have limited therapeutic options and may experience poor outcomes. Therefore, effective and well-tolerated therapies are needed for participants with relapsed or refractory (R/R) CLL/SLL who have previously received a covalent BTK inhibitor.

Rocbrutinib (LP-168) is a selective next-generation inhibitor of BTK, that can irreversibly inhibit WT BTK, and reversibly inhibit C481 mutated BTK, with activity against known resistance mutations for non-covalent BTKi, under investigation for the treatment of CLL/SLL. Pirtobrutinib is an oral BTK inhibitor with regulatory approval for adults with R/R CLL/SLL who have previously received a covalent BTK inhibitor (cBTKi). This Phase 3 study is designed to compare the efficacy and safety of rocbrutinib versus pirtobrutinib in adult participants with cBTKi-pretreated R/R CLL/SLL.

This is a Phase 3, randomized, open-label, multicenter study conducted at approximately 100 sites globally. Approximately 306 participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive rocbrutinib (LP-168) or pirtobrutinib. Eligible participants are adults with confirmed R/R CLL or SLL who require therapy and have received prior treatment with a cBTKi. Participants may have received additional prior systemic therapies, including prior exposure to a BCL2 inhibitor. Key exclusion criteria include central nervous system involvement by CLL/SLL and clinically significant cardiovascular conditions, including uncontrolled arrhythmias and clinically relevant QTc prolongation.

Participants randomized to the investigational arm will receive rocbrutinib 200 mg orally once daily. Participants randomized to the active comparator arm will receive pirtobrutinib 200 mg orally once daily. Study treatments will be administered continuously in 28-day cycles until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, withdrawal of consent, or other protocol-defined discontinuation criteria. Crossover between treatment arms is not permitted.

Randomization will be stratified based on prognostic and treatment-history factors, including: (1) del(17p) and/or TP53 mutation status, (2) reason for discontinuation of prior cBTKi therapy, (3) prior exposure to a BCL2 inhibitor, and (4) geographic region.

The primary endpoint is progression-free survival (PFS). PFS will be assessed by an independent review committee (IRC) to provide objective evaluation of disease status. Response and progression for participants with CLL will be assessed according to iwCLL 2018 criteria, while participants with SLL will be assessed using Lugano 2014 criteria.

Key secondary efficacy endpoints include overall survival (OS), overall response rate (ORR), duration of response (DOR), time to next treatment (TTNT), and event-free survival (EFS). Additional secondary objectives include characterization of the safety and tolerability of rocbrutinib relative to pirtobrutinib. Safety will be assessed through evaluation of adverse events (AEs), serious adverse events (SAEs), adverse events of special interest, deaths, physical examinations, vital signs, electrocardiograms, and clinical laboratory assessments. AEs will be graded using National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI CTCAE) version 5.0. In addition, population pharmacokinetics will be evaluated to characterize exposure-response relationships.

Exploratory objectives include evaluation of patient-reported outcomes and health-related quality of life, as well as biomarker assessments aimed at characterizing disease biology, mechanisms of response and resistance, and potential predictors of clinical benefit.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 306
• Phase: Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Anna Y Chen, M.D., Ph.D.; Phone Number: 1-206-335-3820; Email: ROCKET-CLL@newavepharma.com
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Stephen Anthony, D.O.; Phone Number: 1-509-847-5646; Email: ROCKET-CLL@newavepharma.com

Study Locations

• United States
  • Maryland
    • Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20817
      • Recruiting
      • The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders-Bethesda
  • Nevada
    • Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, 89102
      • Recruiting
      • Optum Medical Group (Rhodes) P.C.
  • Ohio
    • Columbus, Ohio, United States, 43210
      • Not yet recruiting
      • OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center
  • Pennsylvania
    • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15213
      • Not yet recruiting
      • UPMC Hillman Cancer Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ≥18 years;
• Histologically confirmed CLL/SLL iwCLL 2018;
• Relapsed or refractory disease requiring treatment;
• Previously treated with prior lines of therapy including a covalent BTK inhibitor;
• Measurable disease;
• ECOG 0-2;
• Adequate marrow, hepatic, and renal function;
• TP53 mutation status confirmed by NGS;
• 17p deletion status confirmed by FISH;

Exclusion Criteria:

• Prior ncBTKi or BTK degraders;
• Richter's transformation;
• Confirmed prolymphocytic leukemia;
• Uncontrolled comorbidities or infections;
• Known CNS involvement by CLL/SLL;
• Prior malignancy requiring active treatment (except certain adequately treated cancers) per protocol;
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding;
• Concomitant medications or conditions prohibited by protocol (e.g., strong drug-drug interaction risk);

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Rocbrutinib; 200mg daily	Drug: Rocbrutinib; The new generation, highly potent, ultra-selective BTK inhibitor with covalent and non-covalent dual binding mechanism, targeting both WT BTK and mutant BTK
Active Comparator: Pirtobrutinib; 200mg daily	Drug: Pirtobrutinib; Pirtobrutinib is a non-covalent BTK inhibitor.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
PFS assessed by IRC	Progression-Free Survival assessed by independent review committee. PFS is defined as the time from the date of randomization to disease progression or death from any cause, whichever occurs first. Those who do not experience disease progression or death at the time of analysis are censored according to the last evaluation time point.	From randomization until disease progression or death from any cause, assessed up to approximately 4 years.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
OS	Overall survival is defined as the time from the date of randomization to death from any cause. Those who did not die during the analysis were censored according to the last date the subject is known to be alive.	From randomization until death from any cause, assessed up to approximately 4 years
PFS assessed by INV	Progression free survival assessed by investigator	From randomization until disease progression or death from any cause, assessed up to approximately 4 years.
ORR	Overall response rate	From randomization until disease progression, assessed up to approximately 4 years
DOR	Duration of response	From first documented response until disease progression or death, assessed up to approximately 4 years
TTNT	Time to next treatment	From randomization to start of next anti-CLL/SLL treatment, assessed up to approximately 4 years.
EFS	Event free survival	From randomization until an event occurs, assessed up to approximately 4 years.
Safety and tolerability	Safety and tolerability will be assessed by the incidence, severity, and relationship of adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs), including deaths; adverse events leading to dose modification or discontinuation; and changes in clinical laboratory parameters. Adverse events will be graded per NCI CTCAE v5.0, with specific monitoring for clinically significant cardiac arrhythmias and bleeding events.	From first dose through 30 days after the last dose of study treatment (up to approximately 4 years)

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Health related quality of Life	Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) will be assessed using validated patient-reported outcome (PRO) questionnaires to evaluate participants' functioning and symptoms over time. HRQoL endpoints will include change from baseline in overall health status and selected symptom and function domains. For the Global Health Status/QoL and functional scales, higher scores indicate better quality of life and functioning. For symptom scales/items, higher scores indicate greater symptom burden (worse symptoms).	From baseline through end of treatment and follow-up, assessed up to approximately 4 years.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Newave Pharmaceutical Inc

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 23, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 30, 2029
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 30, 2030

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 13, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 13, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): January 15, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 14, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 12, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Open-label; Randomized; Relapsed or refractory; CLL; Phase 3; PFS; Chronic lymphocytic leukemia; SLL; BTK inhibitor; Small lymphocytic lymphoma; Progression-free survival; Global; Pirtobrutinib; TP53 mutation; CLL/SLL; LP-168; Jaypirca; Rocbrutinib; Covalent BTK inhibitor pretreated; cBTKi pretreated / cBTKi-exposed; Non-covalent BTK inhibitor; Next-generation BTKi; Dual-binding BTKi; Fourth-generation BTKi; Oral once daily; Independent review committee; IRC-assessed; iwCLL 2018; Lugano 2014; del(17p); Prior BCL2 inhibitor exposure; eason for prior BTKi discontinuation (progression vs intolerance)
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Neoplasms; Chronic Disease; Disease Attributes; Immune System Diseases; Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Hematologic Diseases; Lymphatic Diseases; Lymphoproliferative Disorders; Immunoproliferative Disorders; Leukemia, Lymphoid; Leukemia; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases; Recurrence; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell; Leukemia, B-Cell; Chromosome 17 deletion; pirtobrutinib
• Other Study ID Numbers: LP-168-US-CLL301; ROCKET-CLL (Other Identifier: Newave Pharmaceutical Inc.)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No