Dr. Ailawadhi on the Rationale to Evaluate Lisaftoclax in CLL

Sikander Ailawadhi, MD, consultant, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, professor of medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Departments of Medicine and Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic, discusses the rationale to evaluate lisaftoclax (APG-2575) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

During the 2021 ASCO Annual Meeting, findings from a phase 1, first-in-human study (NCT03537482) evaluating lisaftoclax in relapsed/refractory CLL and other hematologic malignancies were presented virtually. The results showed that daily lisaftoclax was well tolerated up to 1200 mg and was associated with an overall response rate of 80% in patients with relapsed/refractory CLL and small lymphocytic lymphoma.

The rationale for the trial was to determine whether lisaftoclax, a BCL-2 inhibitor, could provide similar efficacy as venetoclax (Venclexta) with a different toxicity profile across several hematologic malignancies, including CLL, Ailawadhi explains.

The findings showed that lisaftoclax could provide a potentially convenient, effective, and well-tolerated treatment alternative for this patient population, concludes Ailawadhi.