What is Sonrotoclax?
Sonrotoclax is a class of drugs called a BCL2 inhibitor, and BCL2 is a protein that is involved in apoptosis, which we called programed cell death. So if cells upregulate BCL2, they essentially have the ability to survive. So, the classic drug that was developed for, BCL2 targeting is a drug called venetoclax. It has a long and storied history. It's been studied in trials in myeloma. What's unique about Venetoclax, is it only works in a subset, and that subset is t(11;14). Pretty much everywhere else. It doesn't work. And there were actually some risks in other subgroups. So I think we're we're starting to understand a little bit about personalized medicine here. Like we got a targeted therapy that works in one particular subtype of myeloma. And if we expand it to every person with myeloma, maybe that's not such a good idea. We got a targeted to that one population. So what Sonrotoclax. It's kind of that gorilla version of Venetoclax. It is, a lot stronger. It is an oral drug. So that's there's that advantage. so really it's being studied in this t(11;14) population. And I think, my personal experience with Venetoclax is I've had to pull it out in some patients who are in dire situations. And boy, if they had the t(11;14), I saw dramatic responses. We had someone on their deathbed that we basically pulled back to life by just giving them venetoclax. Right. So and that wouldn't have happened if they didn't have the t(11;14). So that's the population that that drug is targeting. It’s stronger. So we hope the responses are deeper. And Venetoclax resistance is there. And perhaps we don't know enough about this yet, but maybe Sonrotoclax can overcome when venetoclax, does not work right, so that that drug is being looked at in that space, along with other diseases like chronic lymphocytic leukemia and other, lymphomas, like mantle cell lymphoma.
Is it studied as a monotherapy or in combination with other drugs?
In monotherapy, you know, typically with, with some dexamethasone. And I think the other combinations that have been attractive for synergy have been proteasome inhibitors in general.
What are the main side effects of Sonrotoclax?
Low blood counts is the main one I'm aware of. We can see that with Venetoclax. Also, we have a lot of experience using that agent in a lot of different cancers. There is some GI toxicity. But I don't have a ton of experience with that drug and the side effect profile, but typically, what I've heard is that it's very benign compared to, you know, other agents.