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How long do you take Venclexta for?

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Aug 8, 2023.

Official answer

by Drugs.com

If you have previously untreated CLL (chronic lymphocytic leukemia) or SLL (small lymphocytic leukemia) then Venclexta is usually taken in combination with Gazyva (obinutuzumab) for 12 months.

If you have previously received treatment for CLL or SLL, then Venclexta is usually taken in combination with rituximab for up to 24 months.

For patients with AML (acute myeloid leukemia), Venclexta is continued on a once-daily maintenance dosing cycle, usually in combination with another therapy, for as long as it is deemed safe by your doctor (until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity is observed).

Talk with your doctor about how long you should take Venclexta.

References
  • Venetoclax. Chemocare.http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/drug-info/venetoclax.aspx#:~:text=Venetoclax%20is%20a%20small%20molecule,%2C%20an%20anti%2Dapoptotic%20protein.
  • Venclexta (venetoclax) 05/2020 AbbVie Inc. https://www.drugs.com/pro/venclexta.html

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Venclexta (venetoclax) is a targeted treatment rather than a type of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is defined as a drug treatment that kills fast-growing cells in your body. Venclexta works by binding to a specific protein called BCL-2 which is overexpressed on cancerous cells in people with cancers such as AML and CLL. By binding to this protein Venclexta kills cancerous CLL and AML lymphocytes, in preference to other fast-growing cells. Continue reading

Venclexta (venetoclax) is effective for both CLL and AML with trials reporting significantly more people experiencing complete remission with Venclexta in combination with other treatments compared to standard therapy. Venclexta works quickly as well, with it taking an average of one month for many people to experience a reduction in disease progression. Continue reading

Although Venclexta is not FDA approved to treat MM, a subgroup analysis of the BELLINI clinical trial, which was halted early by the FDA due to safety concerns, revealed that Venclexta in combination with other treatments may be beneficial for those with relapsed or refractory MM bearing the t(11;14) translocation or with high levels of BCL-2. Continue reading

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