Deaths dent hopes of Venclexta in multiple myeloma

The much-hyped cancer drug Venclexta (venetoclax) has already been approved to treat certain patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia, but it is unlikely to become a multiple myeloma treatment any time soon.

This comes after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) placed a partial clinical hold on all multiple myeloma trials evaluating Venclexta, which is also sold under the name Venclyxto.

A review of data from the ongoing Phase III BELLINI trial, a study in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, found that a higher proportion of deaths was observed in the Venclexta arm compared to the control arm of the trial.