Inclusion Criteria:

- B-cell CLL diagnosis by 2008 revised IWCLL criteria.

- Treatment requirement according to the 2008 revised IWCLL criteria.

- No previous treatment.

- Age > 18 year and . 65 years.

- ECOG performance status of 0-1 at study entry and CIRS score .6.

- Adequate renal function (creatinine clearance.60 ml/min estimated using the
Cockcroft-Gaultequation) .

- For male and female subjects of childbearing potential, agreement to use effective
contraception.

- Signed written informed const according to ICH/EU/GCP and national local laws.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Significant concurrent, uncontrolled medical condition including, but not limited to,
renal, hepatic, gastrointestinal, endocrine, pulmonary, neurological, cerebral or
psychiatric disease and/or laboratory abnormality which in the opinion of the
investigator may represent a risk for the patient and/or that would prevent the
subject from signing the informed consent form.

- Pregnant or lactating females.

- Known positive serology for HIV.

- Positive serology for Hepatitis B (HBV) defined as a positive test for HBsAg and
HBV-DNA.

- HCV-RNA positive.

- Chronic or current infectious disease requiring systemic antibiotics, antifungal, or
antiviral treatment such as, but not limited to, chronic renal infection, chronic
chest infection, tuberculosis and active hepatitis.

- History of tuberculosis within the last five years or recent exposure to tuberculosis
equal to or less than 6 months.

- Known presence of alcohol and/or drug abuse.

- Clinically significant cardiac disease including unstable angina, acute myocardial
infarction within six months prior to the inclusion in the study, congestive heart
failure (NYHA III-IV), arrhythmia unless controlled by therapy.. grade 2 neuropathy;
history of significant cerebrovascular disease in the past 6 months or ongoing event
with active symptoms or sequelae.

- Uncontrolled autoimmune hemolytic anemia or thrombocytopenia.

- One or more laboratory abnormalities:

1. Calculated creatinine clearance (Cockroft-Gault)<60mL/min.

2. Absolute granulocyte count <1500/ƒÊL not disease related.

3. Platelet count < 75000/ƒÊL not disease related.

4. GOT, GPT, GT, alkaline phosphatase > 1,5 x upper limit of normal value unless
due to disease involvement); serum bilirubin >1.5mg/dL, subjects who have
current active hepatic or biliary disease (with exception of patients with
Gilbert's syndrome, asymptomatic gallstones)

- Treatment with any known non-marketed drug substance or experimental therapy within 5
terminal half lives or 4 weeks prior to enrollment, whichever is longer, or currently
participating in any other interventional clinical study

- Other past or current malignancy. Subjects who have been free of malignancy for at
least 5 years, or have a history of completely resected non-melanoma skin cancer, or
successfully treated in situ carcinoma are eligible.