New approval for venetoclax for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted full approval of venetoclax in combination with azacitidine, or decitabine, or low-dose cytarabine (LDAC) for the treatment of newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in adults 75 years or older, or who have comorbidities that preclude use of intensive induction chemotherapy.

While this is not CLL specific news, this new indication in a very different blood cancer than ours is worthy of our attention due to the important role this BCL2 blocker can play in our cancer. The approval of venetoclax for AML informs us of its potency in killing tough cancers and its tolerability in an older and frail population.

Here is the link to Genentech’s official press release: Genentech Announces Full FDA Approval for Venclexta Combinations for Acute Myeloid Leukemia

The Abbvie press release can be found here.