Pirtobrutinib added to R-CHOP for newly diagnosed Richter transformation in Lymphoma
Official title: A Randomized Phase III Study of Pirtobrutinib Plus R-CHOP vs. R-CHOP for Participants With Previously Untreated Richter Transformation (PIRAMID)
Run by SWOG Cancer Research Network · NCT07220187 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial tests whether adding pirtobrutinib to the standard R-CHOP treatment helps people with Richter transformation (a CLL/SLL that becomes aggressive LBCL).
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 3 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 102 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | SWOG Cancer Research Network Research network |
| Drugs / interventions | pirtobrutinib, Chemotherapy, doxorubicin, prednisone, rituximab, cyclophosphamide, CAR-T, chimeric antigen receptor |
| Locations | 62 sites (Irvine, California and 61 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | August 4, 2026 |
| Main results expected | October 1, 2035 |
| Study ends | October 2036 |
| Registry record updated | October 13, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07220187 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adults with newly diagnosed Richter transformation (RT) confirming LBCL from CLL/SLL, measurable disease, and suitable organ function.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with no measurable disease, significant comorbidity, or intolerance to study drugs may not benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
In this phase 3 study, adults with untreated Richter transformation are first assessed for safety of adding pirtobrutinib to R-CHOP (or R-mini-CHOP for older patients), before randomizing to either the combination or R-CHOP alone. The trial then compares progression-free survival between the two arms and, if PFS improves, overall survival as a hierarchical second outcome. Translational aims examine whether high-risk baseline mutations influence overall survival within treatment arms. Secondary aims include comparing complete response rates and adverse events between groups.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, adding pirtobrutinib could improve disease control and survival for patients with Richter transformation.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in similar BTK-inhibitor combinations have shown promise, but this exact combination in untreated RT is being tested.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Participants must have been diagnosed with Richter Transformation (RT) (CLL/small lymphocytic lymphoma \[SLL\] to LBCL) * Participants must have histologically or cytologically confirmed LBCL * Participants must have measurable disease determined by PET/CT or hematopathology (by morphology or flow cytometry) assessment within 42 days prior to registration * Participants must have staging PET/CT imaging performed within 42 days prior to registration * Participants are allowed prior treatments for CLL/SLL or its complications (autoimmune hemolytic anemia \[AIHA\], immune thrombocytopenic purpura \[ITP\]), with the exception of pirtobrutinib * Participants must not have prior treatment for Richter transformation except for corticosteroids up to equivalent dose of prednisone 700 mg total for less than 7 days for disease control. Treatment for CLL/SLL with CLL/SLL directed drugs (including BTK inhibitors with the exception of pirtobrutinib) after the Richter transformation diagnosis is allowed for the purpose of disease control. CLL targeted therapies must be stopped within 3 days before initiation of therapy on protocol. Chemotherapy or anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody therapy must be stopped within 2 weeks before initiation of therapy on protocol * Participants must not have contraindication for receiving anthracycline. Participants must not have received more than a cumulative dose of 100mg/m\^2 in those participants who will receive R-CHOP or not more than 250 mg/m\^2 in those participants who will receive R-mini-CHOP of prior doxorubicin (or equivalent dose of another anthracycline, such as epirubicin) therapy (at any time prior to registration) * Patients requiring strong CYP3A inducers are not eligible and can only be enrolled if * an alternative treatment to the strong CYP3A inducer is available for them and * the last dose of the strong CYP3A inducer is administered at least 7 days before initiation of pirtobrutinib for patients in safety run-in and arm 1 * Participant must be ≥ 18 years old at the time of registration * Participant must have Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG)/Zubrod Performance Status of 0-2 * Participant must have a complete medical history and physical exam within 28 days prior to registration * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 0.75 x 10\^3/µL or ≥ 0.50 x 10\^3/µL in participants with suspected marrow involvement considered to impair hematopoiesis (within 28 days prior to registration) * Platelets ≥ 50 x 10\^3/µL or ≥ 30 x 10\^3/µL in participants with suspected marrow involvement considered to impair hematopoiesis (within 28 days prior to registration) * Hemoglobin ≥ 8 g/dL (≥ 80 g/L) or ≥ 6 g/dL in participants with suspected bone marrow involvement considered to impair hematopoiesis (within 28 days prior to registration) * Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) or ≤ 3 x ULN with documented liver involvement and/or Gilbert's disease (within 28 days prior to registration) * Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) / alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 3 × institutional ULN or ≤ 5 ULN with documented liver involvement (within 28 days prior to registration) * Participants must have a calculated creatinine clearance ≥ 30 mL/min using the Cockcroft-Gault Formula. This specimen must have been drawn and processed within 28 days prior to registration. For the Cockcroft-Gault formula for calculated creatinine clearance, see the tools on the CRA Workbench https://txwb.crab.org/TXWB/Tools.aspx * Participants must have a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 45% as measured by echocardiogram or radionuclide (MUGA) ventriculography within 56 days prior to registration * Participants with known history or current symptoms of cardiac disease, or history of treatment with cardiotoxic agents, must have a clinical risk assessment of cardiac function using the New York Heart Association Functional Classification. To be eligible for this trial, participants must be class 2B or better * HIV-infected patients on effective anti-retroviral therapy with undetectable viral load within 6 months are eligible for this trial. Participants' HIV-directed therapy cannot have known interactions with pirtobrutinib * Participants with a known history of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection must have undetectable HBV viral load while on suppressive therapy on the most recent test results obtained within 6 months prior to registration * Participants with a known history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection must have been treated and cured. Participants currently being treated for HCV infection must have undetectable HCV viral load test on the most recent test results obtained within 6 months prior to registration * Participants must be able to swallow and retain oral medications and have no known gastrointestinal disorders likely to interfere with absorption of oral medications * Participants must not have a prior or concurrent malignancy in addition to CLL/SLL and Richter transformation whose natural history or treatment (in the opinion of the treating physician) has the potential to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the investigational regimen * Participants must not have had major surgery within 28 days prior to registration * Participants must not have experienced a major bleeding event or grade ≥ 3 arrhythmia on prior treatment with a BTK inhibitor. * NOTE: Major bleeding is defined as bleeding having one or more of the following features: potentially life-threatening bleeding with signs or symptoms of hemodynamic compromise; bleeding associated with a decrease in the hemoglobin level of at least 2g per deciliter; or bleeding in a critical area or organ (e.g., retroperitoneal, intraarticular, pericardial, epidural, or intracranial bleeding or intramuscular bleeding with compartment syndrome * Participants must not be pregnant or nursing (nursing includes breast milk fed to an infant by any means, including from the breast, milk expressed by hand, or pumped). Individuals who are of reproductive potential must have agreed to use an effective contraceptive method with details provided as a part of the consent process. A person who has had menses at any time in the preceding 12 consecutive months or who has semen likely to contain sperm is considered to be of "reproductive potential." In addition to routine contraceptive methods, "effective contraception" also includes refraining from sexual activity that might result in pregnancy and surgery intended to prevent pregnancy (or with a side-effect of pregnancy prevention) including hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, bilateral tubal ligation/occlusion, and vasectomy with testing showing no sperm in the semen * Participants must be offered the opportunity to participate in specimen banking * Participants must agree to have blood and lymphatic tissue specimens submitted for the integrated translational medicine study * For randomized participants only: Participants who can complete PRO-CTCAE and FACIT GP5 questionnaires forms in English or Spanish must be offered the opportunity to participate in the patient-reported outcome
Where it's running
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UCI Health - Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and Ambulatory Care
Irvine, California, United States Recruiting -
UCI Health Laguna Hills
Laguna Hills, California, United States Recruiting -
UC Irvine Health/Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
Orange, California, United States Recruiting -
Illinois CancerCare-Bloomington
Bloomington, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Illinois CancerCare-Canton
Canton, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Illinois CancerCare-Carthage
Carthage, Illinois, United States Recruiting
Show 44 more locations
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Carle at The Riverfront
Danville, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Cancer Care Specialists of Illinois - Decatur
Decatur, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Decatur Memorial Hospital
Decatur, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Carle Physician Group-Effingham
Effingham, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Illinois CancerCare-Eureka
Eureka, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Illinois CancerCare-Galesburg
Galesburg, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Illinois CancerCare-Kewanee Clinic
Kewanee, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Illinois CancerCare-Macomb
Macomb, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Carle Physician Group-Mattoon/Charleston
Mattoon, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Carle BroMenn Medical Center
Normal, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Carle Cancer Institute Normal
Normal, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Cancer Care Center of O'Fallon
O'Fallon, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
HSHS Saint Elizabeth's Hospital
O'Fallon, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Illinois CancerCare-Ottawa Clinic
Ottawa, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Illinois CancerCare-Pekin
Pekin, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Illinois CancerCare-Peoria
Peoria, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Illinois CancerCare-Peru
Peru, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Illinois CancerCare-Princeton
Princeton, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Memorial Hospital East
Shiloh, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
Springfield, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Springfield Clinic
Springfield, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Springfield Memorial Hospital
Springfield, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Carle Cancer Center
Urbana, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Illinois CancerCare - Washington
Washington, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States Recruiting -
Trinity Health IHA Medical Group Hematology Oncology - Brighton
Brighton, Michigan, United States Recruiting -
Trinity Health IHA Medical Group Hematology Oncology - Canton
Canton, Michigan, United States Recruiting -
Trinity Health IHA Medical Group Hematology Oncology - Chelsea Hospital
Chelsea, Michigan, United States Recruiting -
Trinity Health Saint Mary Mercy Livonia Hospital
Livonia, Michigan, United States Recruiting -
Trinity Health Saint Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital
Pontiac, Michigan, United States Recruiting -
Trinity Health IHA Medical Group Hematology Oncology Ann Arbor Campus
Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States Recruiting -
Siteman Cancer Center at Saint Peters Hospital
City of Saint Peters, Missouri, United States Recruiting -
Siteman Cancer Center at West County Hospital
Creve Coeur, Missouri, United States Recruiting -
Washington University School of Medicine
St Louis, Missouri, United States Recruiting -
Siteman Cancer Center-South County
St Louis, Missouri, United States Recruiting -
Siteman Cancer Center at Christian Hospital
St Louis, Missouri, United States Recruiting -
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States Recruiting -
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, North Carolina, United States Recruiting -
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Recruiting -
Huntsman Cancer Institute/University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Recruiting -
VCU Massey Cancer Center at Stony Point
Richmond, Virginia, United States Recruiting -
VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center
Richmond, Virginia, United States Recruiting -
FHCC Overlake
Bellevue, Washington, United States Recruiting -
FHCC at EvergreenHealth
Kirkland, Washington, United States Recruiting
+12 more sites. See ClinicalTrials.gov for the full list.
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Mazyar Shadman — SWOG Cancer Research Network
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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Zanubrutinib with odronextamab for Richter's transformation
This phase I test will see if combining zanubrutinib with odronextamab helps adults whose chronic lymphocytic leukemia has transformed into aggressive lymphoma (Richter's transformation).
-
Pirtobrutinib and Epcoritamab vs R-(Mini)-CHOP for DLBCL-type Richter Transformation in older or frail adults
This trial tests a fixed-duration treatment with Pirtobrutinib and Epcoritamab against a mini-CHOP regimen in adults age 80+ or who are frail with Richter transformation.
-
Pirtobrutinib for Elderly CLL: See if this BTK inhibitor helps older adults
This study tests whether pirtobrutinib can help people aged 75 and older with chronic lymphocytic leukemia that hasn’t been treated yet.
-
R-PMDT Regimen for Newly Diagnosed PCNSL
This study tests the R-PMDT treatment approach in people newly diagnosed with primary CNS lymphoma to see how many respond.
-
NX-5948 vs Pirtobrutinib in R/R CLL/SLL
This study tests NX-5948 against pirtobrutinib in people with relapsed or refractory CLL/SLL who have previously tried a covalent BTK inhibitor.
-
Immune profiling during first-line pirtobrutinib treatment for CLL/SLL
This will test pirtobrutinib as a first treatment for adults with CLL or SLL and see how it changes immune cells in the blood and lymph nodes.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.