Inclusion Criteria:

1. Diagnosis of B-cell CLL

2. Relapsed, bendamustine-sensitive (at least partial response with a duration of at
least six months) or bendamustine-naive patients after at least one but not more than
3 prior treatments of their disease.

3. CLL in need of treatment (Binet C or A/B with active disease) according to Hallek et
al. 2008

4. Subject must have measurable disease according to NCI-WG criteria (for details see
Hallek M, Blood 2008; 111: 5446-5456).

5. Pre-study WHO performance status ≤ 2 and modified cumulative illness rating score
(CIRS) of less than 7.

6. Signed, written informed consent.

7. Men and women of reproductive potential must agree to follow accepted birth control
methods during treatment and for 3 months after completion of treatment.

8. Acceptable liver function: Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) at
screening, AST (SGOT) and/or ALT (SGPT) ≤ 2.5 x ULN.

9. Acceptable hematologic status: Platelet count ≥ 75 x 109/L, ANC > 0.75x109/L.

10. Acceptable renal function: Serum creatinine ≤1.5 ULN and/or calculated creatinine
clearance (Cockroft-Gault Formula) ≥ 50 mL/min

11. Male or female, age ≥ 18

12. No clinically significant abnormalities of liver volume, liver hemodynamics or
elasticity, measured by abdominal ultrasound.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Relapse of B-cell CLL within 12 months after last chemotherapy.

2. Subjects who have progressed to more aggressive B-cell cancers such as Richter's
syndrome.

3. CLL with documented loss of the short arm of chromosome 17 (17p-) associated with the
loss of p53.

4. The subject has a history of or is clinically suspicious for cancer-related Central
Nervous System disease.

5. Patients at risk of hemostasis or spleen rupture.

6. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia.

7. Prior allogeneic stem cell transplant (alloSCT) or patients who are considered to be
candidates for allo SCT as assessed by their treating physician

8. Patient has a history of other active malignancies within three years prior to study
entry, with the exception of: adequately treated in situ carcinoma of the cervix
uteri; basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin; in situ carcinoma of the
bladder; previous malignancy confined and surgically resected with curative intent.

9. The patient exhibits evidence of other clinically significant uncontrolled
condition(s) including, but not limited to: uncontrolled systemic infection (viral,
bacterial, or fungal); diagnosis of fever and neutropenia within 1 week prior to
study drug administration.

10. Female subject is pregnant or breast-feeding.

11. Known infection with HIV, active Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C.

12. The patient has a history of prior toxicity from bendamustine or rituximab that
resulted in permanent discontinuation of treatments.

13. Treatment with other investigational drugs, or participation in another clinical
trial within 30 days prior to study drug administration.

14. Uncontrolled hypertension (defined as systolic blood pressure (BP) > 160 mm Hg or
diastolic BP > 100 mm Hg).

15. Myocardial infarction or unstable angina within the past 6 months prior to study drug
administration.

16. Systemic illnesses or other severe concurrent disease including alcoholism which, in
the judgment of the investigator, would make the patient inappropriate for entry into
this study or interfere significantly with the proper assessment of safety and
efficacy of the investigational treatments.

17. Known or suspected of not being able to comply with the trial protocol.

18. Having been previously enrolled in this clinical trial.

19. Known hypersensitivity to rituximab or to any of the excipients or to murine proteins

20. History of recurring or chronic infections or underlying conditions which may further
predispose patients to serious infection.

21. Known hypersensitivity to bendamustine or to mannitol.

22. Invasive surgery within 30 days prior to study drug administration.