Vol. 5 No. 10 (2025)
Reimbursement Recommendations

Acalabrutinib (Calquence)

decorative image of the issue cover

Published October 21, 2025

Key Messages

  • Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA-AMC) recommends that Calquence should be reimbursed by public drug plans for the treatment of adult patients with previously untreated mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) in combination with bendamustine and rituximab (BR), if certain conditions are met.
  • Calquence plus BR should only be covered to treat patients aged 65 years or older with previously untreated MCL, with a good performance status. Calquence plus BR should not be covered in patients who have a history of central nervous system lymphoma or leptomeningeal disease, or if the goal of therapy is tumour debulking before stem cell transplant.
  • Calquence plus BR should only be reimbursed if prescribed by clinicians with expertise in managing MCL and monitoring therapy, and if the cost of Calquence is reduced.