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Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 2INTERVENTIONAL

A Study of Vemurafenib and Obinutuzumab Compared to Cladribine and Rituximab in People With Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL)

A Randomized, Multi-Center, Phase II Study of Vemurafenib Plus Obinutuzumab vs. Cladribine Plus Rituximab in Patients With Previously Untreated Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL)

A Study of Vemurafenib and Obinutuzumab Compared to Cladribine and Rituximab in People With Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL) (NCT06561360) is a Phase 2 interventional studying Hairy Cell Leukemia, sponsored by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

The researchers are doing this study to compare the safety of vemurafenib in combination with obinutuzumab to the standard of approach of cladribine in combination with rituximab. The researchers will look at which treatment causes fewer or milder side effects. Researchers think vemurafenib and obinutuzumab (non-chemotherapy drugs) may cause fewer side effects compared with the usual approach of chemotherapy drugs. They will also compare the two approaches to see which approach is more effective at eliminating cancer cells.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether a treatment actually works against Hairy Cell 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 86 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused Hairy Cell 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: - Patients must be ≥ 18 years of age - diagnosed by tissue sample (biopsy-confirmed) classical HCL by the enrolling institution - Presence of BRAF V600E mutation as confirmed by PCR, NGS or immunohistochemistry. If patient is known to have negative BRAF mutation, repeat testing is advisable as well as discussion with the main study principal investigator. - Has not received any prior therapy for the disease - Patients who meet the standard treatment initiation criteria, as defined by ANC ≤1.0, Hgb ≤ 10.0 or PLT ≤100K - You should be able to carry out daily activities with 0 level of ability (ECOG 0) - 2 - Acceptable pre-study organ function during screening as defined as: - Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN); - Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 2.5x ULN; and - Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5x ULN - Electrocardiogram (ECG) without evidence of clinically significant ventricular arrhythmias or ischemia as determined by the investigator and a rate-corrected QT interval (QTc, Bazett's formula) of \< 480 msec - For women of childbearing potential, agreement to the use of two acceptable methods of contraception, including one barrier method, during the study and for 6 months after discontinuation of vemurafenib and cladribine, and 18 months after discontinuation of rituximab and obinutuzumab - For men with female partners of childbearing potential, agreement to use a latex condom and to advise their female partner to use an additional method of contraception during the study and for 6 months after discontinuation of vemurafenib - Negative serum pregnancy test within 7 days of commencement of treatment in women of childbearing potential Who Should NOT Join This Trial: ...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: * Patients must be ≥ 18 years of age * Histologically confirmed classical HCL by the enrolling institution * Presence of BRAF V600E mutation as confirmed by PCR, NGS or immunohistochemistry. If patient is known to have negative BRAF mutation, repeat testing is advisable as well as discussion with the main study principal investigator. * Has not received any prior therapy for the disease * Patients who meet the standard treatment initiation criteria, as defined by ANC ≤1.0, Hgb ≤ 10.0 or PLT ≤100K * ECOG performance status of 0 - 2 * Acceptable pre-study organ function during screening as defined as: * Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN); * Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 2.5x ULN; and * Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5x ULN * Electrocardiogram (ECG) without evidence of clinically significant ventricular arrhythmias or ischemia as determined by the investigator and a rate-corrected QT interval (QTc, Bazett's formula) of \< 480 msec * For women of childbearing potential, agreement to the use of two acceptable methods of contraception, including one barrier method, during the study and for 6 months after discontinuation of vemurafenib and cladribine, and 18 months after discontinuation of rituximab and obinutuzumab * For men with female partners of childbearing potential, agreement to use a latex condom and to advise their female partner to use an additional method of contraception during the study and for 6 months after discontinuation of vemurafenib * Negative serum pregnancy test within 7 days of commencement of treatment in women of childbearing potential Exclusion Criteria: * Have had previous treatment for HCL, including purine analogs, vemurafenib, rituximab, obinutuzumab, and other investigational agents. Previous treatment with transfusions and other supportive care such as G-CSF and erythropoietin are allowed. * Known hypersensitivity to any of the study drugs. * Patients with known long QT syndrome or uncorrectable electrolyte abnormalities * Clinically significant history of liver disease, including viral or other hepatitis, current alcohol abuse, or cirrhosis. * Presence of positive test results for hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) or hepatitis C (HCV) antibody ° Patients with occult or prior HBV infection (defined as positive total hepatitis B core antibody \[HBcAb\] and negative HBsAg) may be included if HBV DNA is undetectable. These patients must be willing to undergo monthly DNA testing and take HBV viral prophylaxis such as entecavir. * Known infection with HIV or human T-cell leukemia virus 1 (HTLV-1) * Active uncontrolled infection, e.g. persistent bacteremia, supplemental oxygen or pressor supports, etc. * Live vaccination within 28 days of randomization * Patients with concurrent active malignancies as defined by malignancies requiring any therapy other than expectant observation or hormonal therapy, with the exception of squamous and basal cell carcinoma of the skin, in situ cervical cancer, adequately treated stage I/II cancer from which the patient is current in complete remission, or any other cancer from which the patient has been disease free for five years * Malabsorption syndrome or other condition that precludes enteral route of administration * Patients with HCL variant (as defined by absence of expression of CD25) * Pregnant or lactating, or intending to become pregnant during the study

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

Vemurafenib

Vemurafenib orally twice daily (b.i.d.) continuously in cycles of 4 weeks (28 days) for a total of 4 cycles.

DRUG

Obinutuzumab

Obinutuzumab will be administered concomitantly with vemurafenib starting at cycle 2 of treatment in cycles of 4 weeks.

DRUG

Cladribine

Cladribine IV on days 1-5 concurrently with rituximab.

DRUG

Rituximab

Rituximab on days 1-5 concurrently with rituximab.

Locations (10)

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.

Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Mayo Clinic Cancer Center
Rochester, Minnesota, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering at Basking Ridge (All Protocol Activities)
Basking Ridge, New Jersey, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth (Limited Protocol Activities)
Middletown, New Jersey, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Bergen (Limited Protocol Activities)
Montvale, New Jersey, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Commack - Suffolk (Limited Protocol Activities)
Commack, New York, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Westchester (All Protocol Activities)
Harrison, New York, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (All Protocol Activities)
New York, New York, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Nassau (Limited Protocol Activities)
Uniondale, New York, United States
Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio, United States

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT06561360), the sponsor (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center), 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 NCT06561360 clinical trial studying?

The researchers are doing this study to compare the safety of vemurafenib in combination with obinutuzumab to the standard of approach of cladribine in combination with rituximab. The researchers will look at which treatment causes fewer or milder side effects. Researchers think vemurafenib and obinutuzumab (non-chemotherapy drugs) may cause fewer side effects compared with the usual approach of chemotherapy drugs. They will also compare the two approaches to see which approach is more effective at eliminating cancer cells. The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT06561360?

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 NCT06561360?

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 NCT06561360. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT06561360. 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 2026-05-08 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.