AbbVie , a global biopharmaceutical company, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation for venetoclax in combination with rituximab for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (R/R CLL). Venetoclax is an inhibitor of the B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) protein being developed by AbbVie in partnership with Genentech and Roche.
The designation is supported by an investigational study of venetoclax in combination with rituximab in patients with R/R CLL. Rituximab is indicated in combination with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide for the treatment of patients with previously untreated and previously treated CD20-positive CLL. Rituximab in combination with the investigational agent venetoclax is not approved for the treatment of R/R CLL.
In the U.S. specifically, it is estimated that more than 14,000 people will be diagnosed with CLL this year.
In April 2015, the FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to single agent venetoclax for the treatment of CLL in previously treated (relapsed/refractory) patients with the 17p deletion genetic mutation. According to the FDA, Breakthrough Therapy Designation is intended to expedite the development and review of therapies for serious or life-threatening conditions. In January, AbbVie announced that the FDA granted priority review for the single agent NDA application.
"This second Breakthrough Therapy Designation for venetoclax granted by the FDA underscores the significant potential of this therapy in treating relapsed/refractory CLL patients, and reflects AbbVie's commitment to providing breakthrough therapies for cancer patients," said Michael Severino, M.D., executive vice president of research and development and chief scientific officer, AbbVie. "AbbVie will continue harnessing our collective expertise to accelerate efforts to bring new treatment options to patients battling this difficult to treat blood cancer."
