ASCO 21: Novel BCL-2 inhibitor could offer alternative to venetoclax in RR CLL

Blood cancers

By Sunalie Silva

10 Jun 2021

Prof Miles Prince

With a daily ramp-up schedule that may be more patient “user friendly” and a favourable preliminary safety profile, the novel BCL-2 inhibitor lisaftoclax could offer an alternative to venetoclax for patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) CLL and other haematologic malignancies

Presenting findings from the first-in-human study of lisaftoclax this week at ASCOs virtual annual scientific meeting, oncologist Dr Sikander Ailawadhi from The Mayo Clinic in the US, said the risk of tumour lysis syndrome (TLS) with venetoclax, also a BCL-2 inhibitor, requires a five-week dose ramp up for CLL patients and cases of severe neutropenia with venetoclax have also been reported.

But in the phase I international study of lisaftoclax, investigators, including Professor Miles Prince, Director of Molecular Oncology and Cancer Immunology at the Epworth Hospital in Melbourne, said the BCL-2 inhibitor was well tolerated up to 1,200 mg/day.

Lisaftoclax was orally administered daily in a 28-day cycle to 35 patients. Patients with CLL or intermediate-high TLS risk were initiated on a daily ramp-up schedule until the assigned dose before the study cycles, say investigators.

No TLS was observed, even with the daily ramp-up schedule. There were no significant new or unmanageable safety findings, and the ORR in R/R CLL/SLL patients was 85.7% with the MDT not yet reached

Meanwhile Grade 3-4 treated-related adverse events were infrequent, even at dose levels of 800 mg and above, they report.

Read more.

Already a member?

Login to keep reading.

OR
Email me a login link