Monday, Jun 16, 2025

Genentech Provides Update on Phase III Verona Study

South San Francisco, CA -- June 16, 2025 --

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), and AbbVie announced today the outcome from the Phase III VERONA study (NCT04401748) investigating Venclexta^® (venetoclax) plus azacitidine for patients with previously untreated higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The study did not meet the primary endpoint of overall survival at the final analysis. The safety profile of the Venclexta combination was consistent with the known risk of the individual study medicines and no unexpected safety signals were observed. Full data will be presented at an upcoming medical meeting in 2025.

 

VERONA is a global, AbbVie-led, Phase III, multicenter, randomized, double-blind study evaluating Venclexta in combination with azacitidine compared to placebo plus azacitidine in treatment-naïve patients with higher-risk MDS. The study includes approximately 500 patients across 220 sites globally who were randomly assigned to either Venclexta plus azacitidine or placebo plus azacitidine. Patients who received Venclexta in combination with azacitidine through participation in the MDS clinical trials will be informed by their treating physician.

 

The results of the VERONA study have no impact on the approved indications for Venclexta or any ongoing studies. 

 

About Venclexta^® (venetoclax)

Venclexta is a first-in-class targeted medicine designed to bind selectively and inhibit the B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) protein. In some blood cancers and other tumors, BCL-2 builds up and prevents cancer cells from dying or self-destructing, a process called apoptosis. Venclexta blocks the BCL-2 protein and works to help restore the process of apoptosis.

 

Venclexta is being developed by AbbVie and Genentech, a member of the Roche Group. It is jointly commercialized by the companies in the United States and commercialized by AbbVie outside of the United States. Together, the companies are committed to research with Venclexta, which is currently being studied in clinical trials across several types of blood cancers.

 

Venclexta^® (venetoclax) U.S. Indication

Venclexta is a prescription medicine used:

• to treat adults with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL).
• in combination with azacitidine, or decitabine, or low-dose cytarabine to treat adults with newly-diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who:
• are 75 years of age or older, or
• have other medical conditions that prevent the use of standard chemotherapy.

It is not known if Venclexta is safe and effective in children.

 

Important Safety Information

What is the most important information patients should know about Venclexta?

 Venclexta can cause serious side effects, including:

 Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS). TLS is caused by the fast breakdown of cancer cells. TLS can cause kidney failure, the need for dialysis treatment, and may lead to death. The patient’s doctor will do tests to check their risk of getting TLS before they start taking Venclexta. The patient will receive other medicines before starting and during treatment with Venclexta to help reduce the risk of TLS. 

 

The patient may also need to receive intravenous (IV) fluids into their vein. The patient’s doctor will do blood tests to check for TLS when the patient first starts treatment and during treatment with Venclexta. It is important for patients to keep appointments for blood tests. Patients should tell their doctor right away if they have any symptoms of TLS during treatment with Venclexta, including fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, confusion, shortness of breath, seizures, irregular heartbeat, dark or cloudy urine, unusual tiredness, or muscle or joint pain.

 

Patients should drink plenty of water during treatment with Venclexta to help reduce the risk of getting TLS.

 

Patients should drink 6 to 8 glasses (about 56 ounces total) of water each day, starting 2 days before the first dose on the day of the first dose of Venclexta, and each time a dose is increased.

 

The patient’s doctor may delay, decrease the dose, or stop treatment with Venclexta if the patient has side effects. When restarting Venclexta after stopping for 1 week or longer, the patient’s doctor may again check for the risk of TLS and change the patient’s dose.

 

What patients should not take Venclexta?

Certain medicines must not be taken when the patient first starts taking Venclexta and while the dose is being slowly increased because of the risk of increased TLS.

• Patients should tell their doctor about all the medicines they take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Venclexta and other medicines may affect each other causing serious side effects.
• Patients must not start new medicines during treatment with Venclexta without first talking with their doctor.

 

Before taking Venclexta, patients must tell their doctor about all of their medical conditions, including if they:

• Have kidney or liver problems.
• Have problems with body salts or electrolytes, such as potassium, phosphorus, or calcium.
• Have a history of high uric acid levels in the blood or gout.
• Are scheduled to receive a vaccine. Patients should not receive a “live vaccine” before, during, or after treatment with Venclexta, until the patient’s doctor tells them it is okay. If the patient is not sure about the type of immunization or vaccine, the patient should ask their doctor. These vaccines may not be safe or may not work as well during treatment with Venclexta.
• Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Venclexta may harm an unborn baby. If the patient is able to become pregnant, the patient’s doctor should do a pregnancy test before the patient starts treatment with Venclexta, and the patient should use effective birth control during treatment and for at least 30 days after the last dose of Venclexta. If the patient becomes pregnant or thinks they are pregnant, the patient should tell their doctor right away.
• Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Venclexta passes into the patient’s breast milk. Patients are instructed to not breastfeed during treatment with Venclexta and for 1 week after the last dose.

 

What to avoid while taking Venclexta:

 Patients should not drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit, Seville oranges (often used in marmalades), or starfruit while they are taking Venclexta. These products may increase the amount of Venclexta in the patient’s blood.

 What are the possible side effects of Venclexta?

 Venclexta can cause serious side effects, including:

• Low white blood cell counts (neutropenia). Low white blood cell counts are common with Venclexta, but can also be severe. The patient’s doctor will do blood tests to check their blood counts during treatment with Venclexta and may pause dosing.
• Infections. Death and serious infections such as pneumonia and blood infection (sepsis) have happened during treatment with Venclexta. The patient’s doctor will closely monitor and treat the patient right away if they have a fever or any signs of infection during treatment with Venclexta.

 

Patients should tell their doctor right away if they have a fever or any signs of an infection during treatment with Venclexta.

 

The most common side effects of Venclexta when used in combination with obinutuzumab or rituximab or alone in people with CLL or SLL include low white blood cell count; low platelet count; low red blood cell count; diarrhea; nausea; upper respiratory tract infection; cough; muscle and joint pain; tiredness; and swelling of arms, legs, hands, and feet.

 

The most common side effects of Venclexta in combination with azacitidine or decitabine or low-dose cytarabine in people with AML include nausea; diarrhea; low platelet count; constipation; low white blood cell count; fever with low white blood cell count; tiredness; vomiting; swelling of arms, legs, hands, or feet; fever; infection in lungs; shortness of breath; bleeding; low red blood cell count; rash; stomach (abdominal) pain; infection in your blood; muscle and joint pain; dizziness; cough; sore throat; and low blood pressure.

 

Venclexta may cause fertility problems in males. This may affect the ability to father a child. Patients should talk to their doctor if they have concerns about fertility.

 

These are not all the possible side effects of Venclexta. Patients should call their doctor for medical advice about side effects.

 

You may report side effects to the FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or http://www.fda.gov/medwatch. You may also report side effects to Genentech at (888) 835-2555.

 

Please see the Venclexta full Prescribing Information, including the Medication Guide, for additional Important Safety Information.

 

About Genentech in Hematology

For more than 20 years, Genentech has been developing medicines with the goal to redefine treatment in hematology. Today, we’re investing more than ever in our effort to bring innovative treatment options to people with diseases of the blood. For more information visit http://www.gene.com/hematology. 

 

About Genentech

Founded more than 40 years ago, Genentech is a leading biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes medicines to treat patients with serious and life-threatening medical conditions. The company, a member of the Roche Group, has headquarters in South San Francisco, California. For additional information about the company, please visit http://www.gene.com.

 

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