Haematology cancer
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Our ambition is to transform the haematologic cancer care experience, applying our deep understanding of blood cancers and innovative scientific approaches with the aim to deliver new medicines and novel combination strategies.
Redefining standards of care in haematology with innovative science
Blood cancers are a diverse and complex family of diseases.1 There are blood cancers and related disorders of the blood, bone marrow or lymph nodes, including leukaemias, lymphomas and myelomas.1 Among haematologic malignancies, our core areas of focus include acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), multiple myeloma (MM), follicular lymphoma (FL) and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).
We are committed to leveraging our deep understanding of blood cancer to deliver first-in-class and best-in-class medicines with an emphasis on improving the patient experience across all stages of disease and reducing treatment burden across all lines of treatment for the nearly 4 million people living with blood cancer.2
About Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)
CLL is the most common type of leukaemia in adults, with an estimated 191,000 cases and 61,000 deaths globally attributed to CLL each year.3 Global prevalence of CLL is on the rise as improvements in treatment options lead to longer survival and reduced mortality rates.4 In CLL, cancerous cells crowd the bone marrow leaving less room for healthy white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. This can lead to infection, anaemia and bleeding.5 When CLL cells are found mostly in the lymph nodes, they are called small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) cells.6 The majority of CLL patients have multiple comorbid health conditions, though disease progression and complications are the primary causes of death.7
CLL is characterised by a variety of molecular abnormalities that are responsible for disease development, progression and transformation.8 The presence of certain biomarkers in CLL is increasingly used to inform the most appropriate course of treatment.9 As our understanding of CLL advances, we are learning more about the disease’s biomarkers and the valuable role their presence plays in determining a patient’s risk category and in guiding treatment decisions.8,10
About Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)
ALL is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. It is characterised by the overproduction of a type of immature white blood cells called lymphoblasts and encompasses various subtypes, with B cell ALL being the more common, and T-cell ALL the less common type of ALL.11-13 ALL progresses rapidly without treatment, affecting red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.11 The disease can spread to the central nervous system, lymph nodes, spleen, liver, testicles and other organs.11
Children between 2 and 5 years of age are at the highest risk of developing ALL; however, a little less than half of all cases of ALL occur in adults.14,15 Treatment options for ALL can vary based on age and other factors and typically includes chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, radiotherapy and stem cell transplant.12, 13
About lymphoma
Lymphoma is a blood cancer of the lymphatic system. It is caused by the rapid production of lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell.16 B cells and T cells are the two types of lymphocytes that can develop into lymphomas.17 The two main types of lymphoma are Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).16
Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL)
MCL is a rare NHL typically resulting when B-lymphocytes mutate into malignant cells within a region of the lymph node known as the mantle zone.18,19 MCL is often diagnosed as a late-stage disease after it has spread to the gastrointestinal tract and bone marrow.18 MCL can vary in clinical presentation and aggressiveness. Symptoms may include swelling of the lymph nodes, fever, night sweats, weight loss and fatigue, though some people have zero to few signs of MCL leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment.19
There is no cure for MCL; however, there are treatment options to help manage the disease, and recent treatment advances have improved patient outcomes. Unfortunately, for many patients the disease may return after treatment.19,20 Additional treatment options are needed for people who relapse or do not respond to treatment.19,20
Follicular Lymphoma (FL)
FL is a form of NHL that affects the lymphatic system, a part of the immune system that helps fight infections.21 FL occurs when malignant lymphocytes proliferate within the lymph nodes, disrupting the normal production and function of immune cells.21,22 The disease typically grows slowly, and many patients live for years without symptoms or the need for immediate treatment.21 The disease is often discovered during evaluation for unrelated health concerns or through routine physical examinations revealing swollen lymph nodes.22,23 FL is most commonly diagnosed in adults, with an average age at diagnosis of ~60 years.22 Women are more likely to be diagnosed with FL than men.24
Although multiple therapies are currently available for the treatment of FL, most cases of FL are incurable; thus, there remains a need for effective and well-tolerated options, especially for patients who have received multiple prior treatments.25
Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL)
DLBCL is the most common type of NHL, which primarily affects the lymphatic system.26,27 DLBCL can happen when abnormal B lymphocytes build up and group together, preventing the body from fighting off infection as normal.26-28 Symptoms can vary depending on where the lymphoma develops, often mimicking that of other illnesses.28,29 Symptoms are very general which can make DLBCL difficult to diagnose and can start or worsen in just a few weeks. The most common symptoms of DLBCL include painless swellings e.g., in the neck, armpit or groin, night sweats, fatigue, fever and losing weight.27-29
DLBCL comprises about one-third of all NHL cases worldwide, with approximately 194,000 people affected globally in 2022.30,31 Men are more likely to have DLBCL than women and the median age of diagnosis is ~67, with incidence increasing with age.26,32,33
Although multiple therapies are approved for the treatment of DLBCL, 30-40% of patients still experience relapse after initial treatment.29,34 Some people may have multiple relapses highlighting the significant need that remains for additional therapeutic options.27,28,34
About Multiple Myeloma (MM)
MM is a cancer of plasma cells. Plasma cells are a type of white blood cell found in bone marrow. MM can happen when these plasma cells grow out of control, crowding out normal blood-forming cells, and making abnormal antibodies grow out of control.35 MM is caused by certain genetic mutations that likely develop spontaneously as people age.36 The cancer can affect the blood, bones and other organs, which can lead to problems in different parts of the body.36
MM is the second most common blood cancer, accounting for 1% of all cancers and 10% of haematological malignancies worldwide.37 The average age of people diagnosed with MM is 69 years old, with less than 1% of people with MM younger than 35 years old.38
Despite therapeutic advances, MM remains an incurable disease with almost all patients at a high risk for relapse, even after achieving remission.39 There remains a critical need to find new treatments and combination strategies to prevent drug resistance and improve survival rates of those with MM.39
Our R&D approach in blood cancers
We are taking courageous, science-driven risks to redefine the standards of care in haematology with innovative medicines and novel combination strategies with the aim to address the complexity of blood cancers and reduce the treatment burden for patients.
As part of this commitment, we are advancing nine clinical and near-clinical-stage therapies spanning multiple modalities and mechanisms (antibody drug conjugates, cell therapy, immune cell engagers, epigenetic modulators, small molecules), across three major categories of blood cancers: lymphoma, leukaemia and multiple myeloma. Our diverse and complementary pipeline is designed to enable the creation of novel combinations that address the underlying heterogeneity of blood cancers to drive more durable responses and deliver individualised treatment options to patients.
We have bold ambitions to extend the curative potential of cell therapy to more people living with blood cancers by progressing novel solutions to overcome barriers to cell therapy adoption. This includes pioneering methods to improve the autologous manufacturing process, to deliver ‘younger’ and potentially more active CAR Ts and researching off-the-shelf cell therapies to overcome challenges of scalability and accessibility.
T-cell engagers have transformed the treatment of some types of blood cancer.40 We are exploring novel approaches to improve the tolerability of T-cell engagers in the clinic and advancing next-generation engagers designed for a more targeted immune response against cancer cells.
Underpinned by our expanding understanding of tumour biology we are advancing a diverse pipeline including antibody-drug conjugates, delivering chemotherapy directly into target cancer cells, while sparing healthy cells, for highly selective cell killing, and epigenetic modulators.
Our work is powered by a team of leading clinical and scientific experts who bring real-world haematology experience to every decision — ensuring our science delivers impact for patients everywhere.
Maximising transformative technologies to enable early detection and diagnosis
Driven by a fearless pursuit of innovation we are maximising the potential of minimal residual disease (MRD) to sensitively detect disease early, enabling earlier diagnosis, and identifying patients at the highest risk of disease recurrence to enable adaptive treatment approaches. And we are pioneering MRD use for regulatory decision making to accelerate the delivery of potential new medicines.
Partnering to advance care in blood cancer
Developing diverse therapies and combinations to provide treatment options and care to all stages of disease, patient fitness and backgrounds and treatment settings, our goal is to leave no patient with blood cancer behind. Yet, transforming care in blood cancer requires more than scientific breakthroughs, which is why are committed to leveraging our global partnership networks to drive information exchange with patients, healthcare providers, payers and policymakers, advancing access to care and delivering greater value for patients around the world.
Via our Oncology Partners of Choice (PoC) and Partners in Care Networks (PiCN), we are proud to have established a dedicated Haematology Clinical Partnerships group – tapping into their world-class expertise across lymphomas, leukemia and myelomas to accelerate clinical trials.
These partnerships allow us to provide participating international cancer centers and academic institutions early insights into our pipeline, enabling them to make more strategic choices based on their specific needs and patient populations. By starting this process early, partners can open their clinical sites earlier and enroll patients faster, to accelerate the evaluation of investigational drugs and inform ongoing research.
Other Oncology areas of focus
References
1. Blood Cancer United. What is Blood Cancer. Available at: https://bloodcancerunited.org/resources/blog/what-blood-cancer. Accessed March 2026.
2. WHO Cancer Today Factsheet 2022. Total number for NHL, HL, Leukaemia and Myeloma = 4,024,305.
3. Fidan K. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia. J Curr Hematol Oncol Res. 2023;1(3):59-67.
4. Pasquale L. Fedele, PL, Opat, S. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Time to Care for the Survivors J Clin Oncol 42, 2005-2011(2024).
5. National Cancer Institute. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version. Available at https://www.cancer.gov/types/leukemia/patient/cll-treatment-pdq. Accessed March 2026.
6. National Cancer Institute. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms – CLL/SLL. Available online. Accessed March 2026.
7. Strati P, et al. Disease Progression and Complications Are the Main Cause of Death in Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) Independent of Age and Comorbidities at Diagnosis. Blood. 2015;126(23):5265..
8. Moia R, et al. Precision Medicine Management of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Cancers. 2020;12(3):642. Doi:10.3390/cancers12030642.
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10. Lee J and Wang YL. Prognostic and Predictive Molecular Biomarkers in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. J Mol Diagn. 2020;22(9):1114-1125.
11. Cancer Research UK. Available online at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/acute-lymphoblastic-leukaemia-all/about. Accessed March 2026.
12. National Cancer Institute. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version. Available online at: https://www.cancer.gov/types/leukemia/patient/adult-all-treatment-pdq. Accessed March 2026.
13. Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) Adults. Available at https://bloodcancerunited.org/resources/educational-resources/publications/booklet/acute-lymphoblastic-leukemia-all-adults. Accessed March 2026.
14. Ding F, Deng L, et al. Analysis global trends in acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children aged 0-5 years from 1990 to 2021. Front Pediatric. 2025 Mar.
15. American Cancer Society. Key Statistics for Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/acute-lymphocytic-leukemia/about/key-statistics.html#:~:text=The%20risk%20of%20developing%20ALL,ALL%20is%20not%20common. Accessed March 2026.
16. Lymphoma Research Foundation. About Lymphoma. https://lymphoma.org/aboutlymphoma/. Accessed March 2026.
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20. Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Mantle Cell Lymphoma Facts. https://www.lls.org/sites/default/files/file_assets/mantlecelllymphoma.pdf. Accessed March 2026.
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22. Mayo Clinic. Follicular lymphoma overview. Available online at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/follicular-lymphoma/symptoms-causes/syc-20584732. Accessed March 2026.
23. Lymphoma Research Foundation. About Follicular Lymphoma. Available online at: https://lymphoma.org/understanding-lymphoma/aboutlymphoma/nhl/follicular-lymphoma/#:~:text=Follicular%20Lymphoma%20Diagnosis,about%20non%2DHodgkin%20lymphoma%20diagnosis. Accessed March 2026.
24. Leukemia Foundation. Follicular lymphoma (FL). Available from: https://www.leukaemia.org.au/types-of-blood-cancer/lymphoma/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/follicular-lymphoma/ Accessed March 2026.
25. Zinzani, P.L., et al. Current and future therapies for follicular lymphoma. Exp Hematol Oncol 13, 87 (2024)
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29. Mayo Clinic. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Available online at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diffuse-large-b-cell-lymphoma/symptoms-causes/syc-20584636. Accessed December 2025.
30. Sehn LH, et al. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. N Engl J Med. 2021;384:842–858
31. Diffused Large B-Cell Lymphoma-Global Clinical Trial Landscape. Cell & Gene. Available online at: https://www.cellandgene.com/doc/diffuse-large-b-cell-lymphoma-global-clinical-trial-landscape-0001#:~:text=Diffuse%20large%20B%2Dcell%20lymphoma%20(DLBCL)%20accounts%20for%2030,bispecific%20antibodies%2C%20such%20as%20Glofitamab. Accessed March 2026.
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33. Cancer stat facts: NHL — Diffuse large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL). National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. Available at: https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/dlbcl.html. Accessed March 2026.
34. Chen H, et al. Lymphoma relapse 1 year or later after immunochemotherapy in DLBCL patients: Clinical features and outcome. Clin Exp Med. 2024.
35. American Cancer Society. About Multiple Myeloma. Available online at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/multiple-myeloma/about/what-is-multiple-myeloma.html Accessed March 2026.
36. Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. Understanding Multiple Myeloma. Available online at: https://themmrf.org/multiple-myeloma/. Accessed March 2026.
37. Rajkumar SV. Multiple myeloma: 2024 update on diagnosis, risk-stratification, and management. Am J Hematol. 2024; 99(9): 1802-1824.
38. American Cancer Society. Key Statistics About Multiple Myeloma. Available online at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/multiple-myeloma/about/key-statistics.html#:~:text=About%2036%2C110%20new%20cases%20will,of%20people%20diagnosed%20is%2069. Accessed March 2026.
39. Dima D et al. Multiple Myeloma Therapy: Emerging Trends and Challenges. Cancers 2022. 14, 4082.
40. Nahle, T et al. Next-generation T cell engages in oncology: pharmacologic evolution from bispecific to trispecific antibodies. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2025
Veeva ID: Z4-81077
Date of preparation: April 2026