dexamethasone + venetoclax (AbbVie Inc.)

This combination therapy involves the addition of dexamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid, to a backbone of venetoclax-based low-intensity therapy (LIT) for the treatment of newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in patients ineligible for intensive chemotherapy. Venetoclax is a potent, selective oral inhibitor of B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2), an anti-apoptotic protein often overexpressed in AML cells, which helps restore the natural process of cell death. Dexamethasone, while traditionally used for its anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties, is being investigated in this context to evaluate whether it improves the safety, tolerability, and clinical outcomes of standard venetoclax-based regimens. The University of Vermont is leading the Phase 1b DLIT-AML study to assess this combination, which typically includes a third agent such as azacitidine, decitabine, or low-dose cytarabine.

Brand names

VenclextaDecadron

Other names

Dexamethasone plus Venetoclax-based Low-Intensity Therapy