Dr. Olin on the Utility of Venetoclax in AML

Rebecca L. Olin, MD, MSCE, associate professor, Department of Medicine (Hematology/Oncology), University of California San Francisco, discusses the utility of venetoclax (Venclexta) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

In November 2018, the FDA granted accelerated approval to venetoclax in combination with a hypomethylating agent—either azacitidine (Vidaza) or decitabine (Dacogen)—or low-dose cytarabine for patients with newly diagnosed AML who are 75 years or older, or patients who are ineligible for intensive induction chemotherapy.

As such, the introduction of the agent has revolutionized treatment and is considered the standard of care for this patient population, says Olin.

Venetoclax allows some borderline-eligible patients to be spared intensive chemotherapy while obtaining similar responses, Olin explains.

However, certain considerations should be taken into account in real-world utilization of this combination including bone marrow biopsy timing, addition of an anti-fungal agent, and proper dose adjustment and scheduling, concludes Olin.