Dr. Anas Younes Discusses IPI-145 and ABT-199

Anas Younes, MD, chief, Lymphoma Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses the clinical value of IPI-145 and ABT-199 as treatment options for patients with lymphoid malignancies.

IPI-145 is a PI3K-delta and gamma inhibitor that appears to be more inclusive compared to the PI3K-delta inhibitor idelalisib. This broader mechanism of action may provide IPI-145 with a wider range of activity, Younes suggests. It has demonstrated good activity across a number of lymphoid malignancies, including indolent lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and T cell lymphomas, Younes says. As a result of this efficacy, IPI-145 will continue to be explored across several settings in larger trials.

ABT-199 is a selective Bcl-2 inhibitor that induces cell death. The majority of data on this agent is from early phase trials. At this point, these early results have been very impressive in CLL, MCL, and even large cell lymphoma, making it a very active agent that should be watched carefully, Younes believes.