Roche Leukaemia Drug Nabs FDA Breakthrough Therapy Status

Roche announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted breakthrough therapy designation for Venclexta (venetoclax) in combination with low dose cytarabine (LDAC) for patients over 65 years old with previously untreated AML who are ineligible for intensive chemotherapy. AML is an aggressive form of leukaemia that starts in immature forms of blood-forming cells, known as myeloid cells, found in the bone marrow.

FDA breakthrough therapy designation is intended to expedite the development and review of medicines with early evidence of potential clinical benefit in serious or life-threatening diseases and to help ensure that patients receive access to medicines as soon as possible.

Venclexta is being developed by AbbVie and Roche. It is jointly commercialized by AbbVie and Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, in the United States and commercialized by AbbVie outside of the United States.