Study summary

A chemotherapy-free pill-and-antibody combination beat chemotherapy for Philadelphia-positive ALL

GIMEMA ALL2820 trial · 236 people, phase 3 · Published 2026, New England Journal of Medicine

86%event-free at 24 months, vs 67% with imatinib plus chemotherapy

What was tested

Ponatinib plus blinatumomab with no chemotherapy, against imatinib plus chemotherapy, for adults with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) ALL.

What they found

24-month event-free survival was 86% vs 67%.
Relapse was 5% vs 13%.
Investigators will watch for relapses in the brain and outside the bone marrow with longer follow-up.

What it means

Could make chemotherapy unnecessary for many adults with Ph+ ALL, the most common subtype in older adults.

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Last reviewed 2026-11-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.