Updated June 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 2INTERVENTIONAL

A Randomized Phase II Study Of Bruton Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor With Or Without Venetoclax In Veterans With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma (SLL)

Q: Who can participate in NCT06520098?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

Q: How do I contact the trial site for NCT06520098?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Q: Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Q: Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

Benefit of Venetoclax Addition ("Benefit VA") in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma (CLL/SLL)

A Randomized Phase II Study Of Bruton Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor With Or Without Venetoclax In Veterans With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma (SLL) (NCT06520098) is a Phase 2 interventional studying Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma, sponsored by VA Office of Research and Development. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

About This Trial

People who have chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) are often treated with ibrutinib, acalabrutinib, or zanubrutinib. These are pills that are taken by mouth. This type of pill is called "Bruton Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor" or BTKi. Another treatment for CLL/SLL is a different pill called venetoclax. The purpose of this study is to compare continuing the current treatment with BTKi alone, as long as it is working, to another arm of treatment which adds venetoclax to the current treatment (BTKi), for one year. After one year, both pills in this arm of treatment would be stopped and the participants will be closely monitored.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether a treatment actually works against Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and continue monitoring side effects. Phase 2 enrolls larger groups (typically 100–300 patients) and produces the first real efficacy signal. A successful Phase 2 readout is what unlocks the much larger Phase 3 confirmatory trials needed for FDA approval.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

Target enrollment of 100 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia subpopulation. At this scale, the study has enough statistical power to detect a clear treatment effect but is not the largest cohort in the field.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: - CLL or SLL diagnosis - Patients must have been diagnosed with CLL (\> 5000 B-cells per uL of peripheral blood at any point during the course of their disease) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) with \<5000 B-cells per µL of blood but with disease-associated lymphadenopathy by 2018 IWCLL criteria. - Prior treatment - Patients must be currently receiving CLL/SLL directed therapy with a BTKi (i.e., ibrutinib, acalabrutinib, zanubrutinib) for at least six months. - The dose of BTKi must be stable for at least the past three months. - Age 18 years - You should be able to carry out daily activities with 0 level of ability (ECOG 0)-2 - Detectable or measurable CLL/SLL in blood or imaging during the screening period. Detectable CLL/SLL in the blood is defined either by elevation in absolute lymphocyte count or by diagnostic flow cytometry from blood demonstrating presence of CLL cells. - Low TLS risk, defined as having all lymph nodes less than 5 cm in diameter (radiographically) and absolute lymphocyte count less than 25 x 109/L in blood, within 30 days of enrollment. - Required initial laboratory values - Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) 1,000/mm3 except if due to bone marrow involvement - Platelet Count (untransfused) 30,000/mm3 except if due to bone marrow involvement - Calc. Creatinine Clearance 40 mL/min (by Cockcroft-Gault) - Bilirubin 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) except if due to liver involvement, hemolysis, or Gilbert's disease - AST / ALT 2.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) except if due to liver involvement - Other - Patients must be able to swallow oral medications and not have the following conditions: disease significantly affecting gastrointestinal absorption, resection of the stomach or small bowel, partial or complete bowel obstruction. - Patients must be able to receive either a xanthine oxidase inhibitor or rasburicase Who Should NOT Join This Trial: - Prior treatment ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language

Inclusion Criteria: * CLL or SLL diagnosis * Patients must have been diagnosed with CLL (\> 5000 B-cells per uL of peripheral blood at any point during the course of their disease) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) with \<5000 B-cells per µL of blood but with disease-associated lymphadenopathy by 2018 IWCLL criteria. * Prior treatment * Patients must be currently receiving CLL/SLL directed therapy with a BTKi (i.e., ibrutinib, acalabrutinib, zanubrutinib) for at least six months. * The dose of BTKi must be stable for at least the past three months. * Age 18 years * ECOG performance status 0-2 * Detectable or measurable CLL/SLL in blood or imaging during the screening period. Detectable CLL/SLL in the blood is defined either by elevation in absolute lymphocyte count or by diagnostic flow cytometry from blood demonstrating presence of CLL cells. * Low TLS risk, defined as having all lymph nodes less than 5 cm in diameter (radiographically) and absolute lymphocyte count less than 25 x 109/L in blood, within 30 days of enrollment. * Required initial laboratory values * Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) 1,000/mm3 except if due to bone marrow involvement * Platelet Count (untransfused) 30,000/mm3 except if due to bone marrow involvement * Calc. Creatinine Clearance 40 mL/min (by Cockcroft-Gault) * Bilirubin 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) except if due to liver involvement, hemolysis, or Gilbert's disease * AST / ALT 2.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) except if due to liver involvement * Other * Patients must be able to swallow oral medications and not have the following conditions: disease significantly affecting gastrointestinal absorption, resection of the stomach or small bowel, partial or complete bowel obstruction. * Patients must be able to receive either a xanthine oxidase inhibitor or rasburicase Exclusion Criteria: * Prior treatment * Patients must not have progression of CLL/SLL on BTKi therapy prior to initiation of the study therapy. * Patients must not have received the combination of BTKi + venetoclax previously. * Comorbid conditions or other active diseases * Patients must not have any history of Richter's transformation or prolymphocytic leukemia. * If evidence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, HBV viral load must be undetectable and be on suppressive therapy, if indicated. * Please note: IVIG can cause a false positive hepatitis B serology. If patients receiving routine IVIG have core antibody or surface antigen positivity without evidence of active viremia (negative hepatitis B DNA) they may still participate in the study, must have hepatitis serologies and hepatitis B DNA monitored periodically by the treating physician. * If history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, must be treated with undetectable HCV viral load. * Patients with Class III or Class IV heart failure by New York Heart Association, those with unstable angina, and those with uncontrolled arrhythmia are not eligible. * Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients on effective antiretroviral therapy are eligible for this trial. * Concomitant medications * Patients must not be receiving active systemic anticoagulation with heparin or warfarin. Patients on warfarin must discontinue the drug for at least 10 days prior to registration on the study. * Chronic concomitant treatment with strong inhibitors of CYP3A4/5 is not recommended on this study. Patients on strong CYP3A inhibitors must discontinue the drug for 14 days prior to registration on the study or discuss with the study principal investigator. * Chronic concomitant treatment with strong CYP3A4/5 inducers is not recommended. Patients must discontinue the drug 14 days prior to registration on the study or discuss with the study principal investigator. * Patients must not require more than 20 mg prednisone or equivalent corticosteroid daily. * Patients must not have uncontrolled active systemic infection requiring intravenous antibiotics

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

Venetoclax

VENCLEXTA is indicated for the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with 17p deletion, as detected by an FDA approved test, who have received at least one prior therapy.

DRUG

Ibrutinib, Acalabrutinib, Zanubrutinib

IMBRUVICA is a kinase inhibitor Acalabrutinib is a selective, irreversible small molecule inhibitor of BTK. Zanubrutinib is BTK inhibitors

Locations (4)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

San Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, CA

San Francisco, California, United States

Kansas City VA Medical Center, Kansas City, MO

Kansas City, Missouri, United States

Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC

Durham, North Carolina, United States

VA Puget Sound Health Care System Seattle Division, Seattle, WA

Seattle, Washington, United States

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT06520098), the sponsor (VA Office of Research and Development), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT06520098 clinical trial studying?

People who have chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) are often treated with ibrutinib, acalabrutinib, or zanubrutinib. These are pills that are taken by mouth. This type of pill is called "Bruton Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor" or BTKi. Another treatment for CLL/SLL is a different pill called venetoclax. The purpose of this study is to compare continuing the current treatment with BTKi alone, as long as it is working, to another arm of treatment which adds venetoclax to the current treatment (BTKi), for one year. After one year, both pills in this arm of treatment… The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT06520098?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT06520098?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT06520098. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT06520098. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-06-07 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.