Dr. Matthew Davids, an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, discussing the safety and efficacy of Lisaftoclax (APG-2575) in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) patients. The drug is currently being evaluated in a phase 2 global study as monotherapy or in combination with acalabrutinib or rituximab.
Dr. Davids highlights that the initial data from the study showed that Lisaftoclax was generally well-tolerated with a manageable safety profile. The most common adverse events were mild or moderate, and the incidence of serious adverse events was low. Additionally, the drug showed promising anti-tumor activity as monotherapy and in combination with acalabrutinib or rituximab. The overall response rate was high, with 80% for patients receiving Lisaftoclax monotherapy, 96% for patients receiving Lisaftoclax plus acalabrutinib, and 100% for patients receiving Lisaftoclax plus rituximab.
The study also demonstrated that Lisaftoclax was effective in patients with high-risk genomic features and those who were previously treated with chemoimmunotherapy. However, the combination of Lisaftoclax and acalabrutinib was associated with a higher incidence of grade 3 or higher neutropenia compared to Lisaftoclax monotherapy or Lisaftoclax plus rituximab. Similarly, the combination of Lisaftoclax and rituximab was associated with a higher incidence of infusion-related reactions compared to Lisaftoclax monotherapy or Lisaftoclax plus acalabrutinib.
Overall, the initial findings suggest that Lisaftoclax may be a valuable treatment option for CLL/SLL patients who are treatment-naïve, relapsed, or refractory. However, further studies are needed to confirm its efficacy and safety. Dr. Davids emphasizes the importance of ongoing research in this area and the need to explore new therapies for CLL/SLL patients.