Dr. Ailawadhi on the Results of a First-in-Human Study of Lisaftoclax in Hematologic Malignancies

Sikander Ailawadhi, MD, professor of medicine, consultant, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, consultant, Department of Cancer Biology, lead, International Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic, discusses the results of a first-in-human, early phase 1 study (NCT03537482) of lisaftoclax (APG-2575) in patients with hematologic malignancies.

The phase 1 study enrolled patients with various hematologic malignancies, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, myeloid malignancies, and hairy cell leukemia. Across the heavily pretreated, heterogenous study population, patients received a median of 2 prior therapies (range, 1-13).

Results from the study, which were presented during the 2021 International Workshop on CLL, showed that among patients with non-CLL/SLL, one patient with multiple myeloma who harbored an 11;14 translocation achieved a minor response with lisaftoclax. Additionally, some patients derived disease stabilization, Ailawadhi explains.

Notably, in the CLL/SLL cohort, an 80% objective response rate was reported with lisaftoclax, which was comprised of all partial responses, Ailawadhi says. Ultimately, clinical benefit was observed with lisaftoclax across the study population and across dose levels analyzed in patients with heavily pretreated hematologic malignancies, Ailawadhi concludes.