Introduction: Venetoclax, an antagonist of BCL-2 protein plays an important role in the
pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). It has been approved by the FDA for
the treatment of relapsed/refractory CLL with del17p, and by the EMA for patients with
del17p/TP53 mutation who have failed a BCR inhibitor, or in patients without those
aberrations who have failed previous therapy, regardless of their genetic/molecular profile.
Venetoclax in combination with rituximab has been also approved for the treatment of CLL …

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common form of leukemia in the western
adult population; it is also prevalent worldwide. The B cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) family
proteins play a key role in regulating intrinsic apoptosis and, in many cancers, are the main
culprits behind tumor survival and therapy resistance. Hence, the role of BCL-2 inhibitors is
very beneficial in the treatment of CLL. Venetoclax is the first selective, orally bioavailable
BCL-2 inhibitor.