<b>Introduction</b>: Regimens involving intensive immuno-chemotherapy, followed by high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplant represent the standard treatment for younger fit patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).Targeted approaches (i.e. ibrutinib, bortezomib, and lenalidomide) represent the backbone of therapy for relapsed cases.<b>Areas covered</b>: Acalabrutinib is a novel small molecule with a butynamide moiety specifically designed to irreversibly inhibit Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK), which is more potent and selective than ibrutinib.