Bhat SA, Gambril JA, Azali L, Chen ST, Rosen L, Palettas M, Wiczer T, Kalathoor S, Zhao Q, Rogers KA, Kittai AS, Grever MR, Awan FT, Ruz P, Byrd JC, Woyach JA, Addison D
Acalabrutinib, a next-generation Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi), associates with dramatic efficacy against B-cell malignancies. Recently, unexplained ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) with next-generation BTKi-therapy have been reported. Yet, whether acalabrutinib associates with VAs in long-term follow-up is unknown. Leveraging a large cohort of 290 consecutive B-cell malignancy patients treated with acalabrutinib from 2014-2020, we assessed the incidence of VAs. The primary endpoint was incident VA-development, including ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, and symptomatic premature ventricular-contractions. Probability Scores were assessed to determine likelihood of acalabrutinib-association. Incident rates as a function of time-on-therapy were calculated. Weighted average observed incidence rates were compared to expected population rates using relative risks. Absolute excess risk (AER) for acalabrutinib-associated VAs was estimated. Over 1,063 person-years of follow-up, there were 8 cases of incident VAs, including 6 in those without coronary-disease (CAD) or heart-failure (HF), and 1 sudden death; median time-to-event was 14.9 months. Among those without prior ibrutinib-use, CAD, or HF, the weighted average incidence was 394 per 100,000 person-years compared to a reported incidence of 48.1 among similar-aged non-BTKi-treated subjects (RR 8.2, P<0.001; AER 346). Outside of age, no cardiac or electrocardiographic variables associated with VA-development. Collectively, these data suggest VAs may be a class-effect of BTKi-therapies.