acalabrutinib + rituximab

Acalabrutinib + rituximab is a combination therapy used primarily in the treatment of B-cell malignancies, most notably mantle cell lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Acalabrutinib is a second-generation, highly selective, covalent Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor that blocks B-cell receptor signaling by irreversibly binding to BTK at cysteine 481, thereby inhibiting malignant B-cell proliferation and survival[6]. Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody targeting CD20 on B lymphocytes, leading to cell death through mechanisms such as antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP), complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC)[4]. The combination leverages acalabrutinib’s selectivity—which does not impair anti-CD20-mediated phagocytosis—making it an effective partner with rituximab[4]. This regimen has demonstrated high efficacy as first-line therapy for older patients with mantle cell lymphoma and is under investigation or use in other B-cell malignancies[2][3][4].

Other names

AR (commonly used abbreviation for the combination in clinical trials)