ASH 2018: Dr. Lindsey Roeker, on real world use of venetoclax for CLL (chronic lymphocytic leukemia)

[bkoffman]

Is venetoclax as safe and effective in the real world as compared to clinical trials? Read my ASH interview with Dr. Roeker to get the comforting news: cllsociety.org/2019/06/ash-...

[DisneyMom]

Thank you Dr. Koffman.

Is it known yet if a patient can become resistant to venetoclax? And is it meant to be a lifelong drug like ibrutinib or is it taken for a specific period of time like the current I+V trial?

Carol 🇨🇦

[bkoffman CLL CURE Hero in reply to DisneyMom]

Resistance does happen with V and is only partially explained.

[Newdawn Administrator in reply to DisneyMom]

Carol, this article recently posted on here addresses some of the emerging issues in relation to Venetoclax resistance;

healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

Newdawn

[alpek]

thank you Dr Koffman, is there any news on when Ibrutinib/Venetoclax combination will be FDA approved? Assuming this will be soon given the very good reported results and the recent approvals of I/O and V/O.

[bkoffman CLL CURE Hero in reply to alpek]

Soon I hope.

[Smakwater]

Dr. Koffman,

In addition to being a treasured CLL pioneer and advocate, You are a champion for many of us.

As a participating clinical trial patient of obinutuzumab + venetoclax and with compliment to this post, my experience with venetetoclax has been extrodinary. I began treatment 9 month ago primarily due to debilitating fatigue.

I was given obinutuzumab initially to clear the tumor burden in the peripheral blood prior to the venetoclax. The adverse conditions during that time were so minimal that they are almost not worth mention. The venetoclax ramp up began 7 months ago and overlapped the obinutuzumab for 3 months at which time the obinutuzumab discontinued. Again, almost no note worthy adverse conditions other than the expected mild neutropenia.

Perspectively, my energy level and stamina is comparable to what it was nearly 2 years prior to diagnosis in 2015 and my quality life is exceedingly better than I deserve. Although there is still a possibility for resistance or transformation, I cannot conceptualize a better treatment process or initial result.

I am encouraged by the approval of this combination for front line CLL, and I hope that it continues to be effective and works this well for many others.

I have approximately 5 months of 400mg daily venetoclax left to complete.

Cheers!

JM

[bkoffman CLL CURE Hero in reply to Smakwater]

So happy that you are doing so well.