Decision brief · what the records say, not our assessment
Study of Efficacy of CML-CP Patients Treated With ABL001 Versus Bosutinib, Previously Treated With 2 or More TKIs
NCT03106779 · Novartis Pharmaceuticals · PHASE3 · completed · Chronic myeloid leukemia · Open Targets disease: chronic myeloid leukemia
Six questions a reader deciding whether to spend more time on this asks, each answered with flags: yes, no, or not published (hatched), each with its rule and source record. Flags are never added up into a score or a verdict, because published success rates disagree by a factor of two and more.
1. Is the biology right?
- Somatic driver evidence: yes · ABL1, BCR in chronic myeloid leukemiaRule: Open Targets has somatic-mutation evidence for the target in this cancer. Source: Open Targets: ABL1 in chronic myeloid leukemia, 2026-11-11Published context: 2.3× relative success for targets with somatic (IntOGen) support in oncology (Minikel et al., Nature 2024, drug programs to 2023). A ratio between groups, not a probability for this program; mostly phase 2 to 3.
- Human genetic evidence: yes · ABL1: curated genetic literature, germline, somatic; BCR: curated genetic literature, germline, somaticRule: Any germline or somatic human genetic evidence for the target in this cancer, counted apart from animal-model and literature evidence. Source: Open Targets: ABL1 in chronic myeloid leukemia, 2026-11-11Published context: 2.6× relative probability of success, phase 1 to launch, with human genetic support (Minikel et al., Nature 2024, drug programs to 2023). All therapy areas, mostly germline evidence; not a probability for this program.
- Pediatric target: yes · ABL1 on the FDA listRule: Target is on FDA's Pediatric Molecular Target List (relevant targets); membership alone neither requires nor waives a study. Source: FDA Pediatric Molecular Target List (Listed as February 2026 on the FDA Pediatric Oncology page; the file served is 9.7.22_the_relevant_molecular_target_list.xlsx, whose Summary of Changes sheet is headed 'SEPTEMBER 2022 UPDATE' (footnote date 2022-09-01)), 2026-11-11
- Haematologic cancer: yes · HaematologicRule: From the indication, or the registry conditions when no indication matches. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03106779, 2026-11-11Published context: Likelihood of approval from phase 1: 7.5% haematologic vs 4.6% solid (BIO / Informa / QLS 2021, 2011–2020). Population-level, not a prediction.
- ABL1 (via Asciminib): Evidence types in chronic myeloid leukemia: clinical, genetic_literature, affected_pathway, literature, genetic_association, somatic_mutation, animal_model; literature and animal_model listed separately from human genetics. Datasources: clinical_precedence, eva, cancer_gene_census, uniprot_literature, eva_somatic, cancer_biomarkers, europepmc, impc. · Open Targets: ABL1 in chronic myeloid leukemia
- BCR (via Asciminib): Evidence types in chronic myeloid leukemia: clinical, genetic_literature, affected_pathway, literature, genetic_association, somatic_mutation; literature listed separately from human genetics. Datasources: clinical_precedence, reactome, cancer_gene_census, uniprot_literature, eva, europepmc. · Open Targets: BCR in chronic myeloid leukemia
- SRC (via Bosutinib): Evidence types in chronic myeloid leukemia: literature, clinical; literature listed separately from human genetics. Datasources: clinical_precedence, europepmc. · Open Targets: SRC in chronic myeloid leukemia
- HCK (via Bosutinib): Evidence types in chronic myeloid leukemia: literature, rna_expression, clinical; literature listed separately from human genetics. Datasources: clinical_precedence, europepmc, expression_atlas. · Open Targets: HCK in chronic myeloid leukemia
- Not loaded on this app yet: Normal-tissue expression in vital organs. Source: Human Protein Atlas (ticket 36).
- Not loaded on this app yet: Pan-essential in cell lines. Source: DepMap (ticket 36).
- Not loaded on this app yet: Approved drug on this target. Source: Drugs@FDA (ticket 30).
2. Can the result be trusted?
- Randomised: yes · Randomised allocationRule: Registry allocation field. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03106779, 2026-11-11
- Small denominator: no · 233 enrolled; each patient moves a rate by 100 ÷ 233 = 0.4 pointsRule: Enrolment under 30; the arithmetic is shown, not a benchmark. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03106779, 2026-11-11
- Primary endpoint is overall survival: no · Major Molecular Response (MMR) Rate at 24 WeeksRule: A registered primary outcome measure names overall survival. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03106779, 2026-11-11Published context: Non-OS primary endpoint: odds ratio 2.79 for a positive phase 3 (Otsuka 2021, 400 phase 3 oncology trials, to 2020). Shown with the next figure: a surrogate is easier to hit, and often a weak guide to survival.Published context: 52% of surrogate-to-OS correlations are low (Prasad 2015, published to 2014). Shown with the figure above.
- Results overdue: no · Results posted 2022-02-15Rule: Primary completion (actual) more than 12 months ago and no results posted to the registry. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03106779, 2026-11-11
- Not loaded on this app yet: Treated and evaluable counts, assessor, confirmed response, follow-up and data cutoff. Source: Readout extraction (ticket 32).
- Not loaded on this app yet: Primary endpoint changed between registry versions. Source: Registry versions in the store (ticket 32).
3. What must it beat?
- Not loaded on this app yet: Control-arm result and approved therapies for the same segment, with label links. Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA labels and readouts (tickets 30, 32).
4. Too crowded, or too late?
- Stopped on this target: 300 terminated, withdrawn or suspended trials of drugs against ABL1; 16 of the 200 most recent give no reason. Reasons are quoted as the registry gives them on the target page. · ABL1: what already stopped
- Not loaded on this app yet: Programs on the target by phase and months behind the leader. Source: Programs and Drugs@FDA (ticket 33).
5. Can it be approved, and stay approved?
- Single-country: no · 88 sites in 25 countries; 10 in the United States (11%)Rule: All listed sites are in one country; the share of US sites is shown. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03106779, 2026-11-11
- EU paediatric investigation plan: yes · EMEA-000727-PIP01-09-M07 (Bosutinib, Treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML)): PM: decision on the application for modification of an agreed PIP, 7 Aug 2023; compliance positive 15 Dec 2023; EMEA-002347-PIP01-18 (asciminib, Treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia): P: decision agreeing on a investigation plan, with or without partial waiver(s) and or deferral(s), 29 Jan 2020Rule: An EMA PIP decision (agreement, modification or waiver) lists the drug as its active substance, exact name. Source: EMA data download (dated snapshot), 2026-11-11
- EU orphan designation: yes · EU/3/20/2261 positive 24 Mar 2020: Treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia; EU/3/10/762 withdrawn 4 Aug 2010: Treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemiaRule: An EU orphan designation lists the drug as its active substance (exact name) or belongs to a medicine that does; withdrawn and expired designations are listed with their status. Source: EMA data download (dated snapshot), 2026-11-11
- Authorised in the EU: yes · Scemblix: authorised since 25 Aug 2022, orphan medicine; Bosulif: authorised since 27 Mar 2013Rule: An EMA medicine record lists the drug as its active substance or INN, exact name; national-only authorisations are not in this file. Source: EMA data download (dated snapshot), 2026-11-11
- FDA orphan designation: not published · FDA's orphan designation database turns away automated requests, so this app does not read it; search it by hand at the linkRule: Would be: an FDA orphan designation names the drug. Source: FDA orphan designations search
- FDA pediatric oncology approval: yes · Bosutinib [Bosulif], 26 Sept 2023: Treatment of adult and pediatric patients 1 year of age and older with chronic phase (CP) Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (Ph+ CML), newly-diagnosed or resistant or intolerant to prior therapyRule: FDA's Pediatric Oncology Drug Approvals table names the drug. Source: FDA Pediatric Oncology Drug Approvals (content current as of 2026-03-03), 2026-11-11
- Registered studies open to children: yes · 7 interventional studies of Asciminib, Bosutinib include patients under 18; 6 are recruiting, not yet recruiting or activeRule: The registry's age group includes Child (birth to 17 years), which also counts studies that set no minimum age. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov search, 2026-11-11
- Caveat: Site counts are not patients per country, and trials registered only outside ClinicalTrials.gov are not covered. Where the sites are is a fact about the record, not a judgement of its quality.
- Rare pediatric disease voucher: FDA, content current as of 29 Apr 2026: “As of February 3, 2026, enactment of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, the rare pediatric disease PRV program will sunset after September 30, 2029. FDA may not award any PRVs under this program after September 30, 2029.” Voucher sale prices are not shown here; they appear only as company-reported news. · FDA: Rare Pediatric Disease Designation and Priority Review Voucher Programs
- Not loaded on this app yet: Precedent approvals for target, modality and endpoint; accelerated-approval status. Source: Drugs@FDA and FDA accelerated-approval tables (ticket 30).
6. Can the sponsor finish?
- Sponsor: Novartis Pharmaceuticals (industry) · ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03106779
- study director: Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Novartis Pharmaceuticals · Person page
- Not loaded on this app yet: Filed cash, quarterly spend and the runway arithmetic. Source: SEC XBRL company facts (ticket 37).
- Not loaded on this app yet: Sponsor's completed vs stopped oncology trials and results-reporting record. Source: Registry, by company (ticket 37).
What public data cannot tell you
Public records cannot show: sales forecasts; a probability of success for this asset; full deal terms and net prices; FDA designations and action dates before approval (shown only as company-reported); clinical holds unless the company disclosed them; manufacturing; patents on unapproved drugs; whether preclinical findings have been replicated.
Sources: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03106779 (2026-11-11); Open Targets Platform (2026-11-11); FDA Pediatric Molecular Target List (Listed as February 2026 on the FDA Pediatric Oncology page; the file served is 9.7.22_the_relevant_molecular_target_list.xlsx, whose Summary of Changes sheet is headed 'SEPTEMBER 2022 UPDATE' (footnote date 2022-09-01)) (2026-11-11). JSON: /api/brief/trial/NCT03106779. Not medical advice.