Venetoclax: Briefed information about the medication

 On May 15'th, 2019, the Food and Drug Administration approved Venetoclax for chronic lymphocytic leukemia. It is used with another drug named obinutuzumab (when CLL has not been previously treated). Or venetoclax is used with another drug named rituximab (when CLL has come back or has not responded to treatment). Venetoclax is also used by itself when CLL has a chromosome deletion and has come back or has not responded to treatment; or has no chromosome deletion and other therapies are not available. 

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia is a type of cancer that typically affects the lymph nodes and WBCs known as “B lymphocytes”. In this disease, unhealthy B lymphocytes amplify rapidly and live a bit longer. This causes an increase in the number of unhealthy B lymphocytes in the blood.

Venetoclax works to inhibit a protein in the body known as BCL-2, which helps malignant cells

 survive. Inhibiting BCL-2 helps to destroy and reduce the number of malignant cells.

Ingredients in Venclexta

The medicine Venclexta contains active ingredient as Venetoclax, and as a non-medicinal ingredients it contains: colloidal silicon dioxide, calcium phosphate dibasic, copovidone, polyethylene glycol, polysorbate 80, iron oxide yellow, polyvinyl alcohol, sodium stearyl fumarate, talc and titanium oxide. Venetoclax 50 mg tablets also contain iron oxide black and iron oxide red.

Dosage Forms & Strengths

The medication Venetoclax typically comes in the form of Tablets as following dosage strengths:

• venetoclax 10 mg tablets
• venetoclax 50 mg tablets
• venetoclax 100 mg tablets

Dosing Regimen

The proposed dosing regimen of Venetoclax is always taken exactly as your health specialist tells you. Drink plenty of water while on treatment with Venetoclax to help reduce the risk of getting TLS. Take the tablets through a meal and water persistently everyday. Swallow the pills whole. Healthcare professionals recommend chewing/crushing/breaking the pills. Your doses of Venetoclax may be reduced in some cases, including in case you have severe liver complications, or you are on with certain drugs that may interact with Venetoclax. Your therapy may be interrupted or dose lowered in case you have certain side effects.

Usual dose: Your health specialist will start Venetoclax at a low dose for 7-days. Your health specialist will gradually increase the dose of Venetoclax over the next 4 weeks to the full standard dose. The usual dosage is as follows: 

The starting dose is 20 mg (2 × 10 mg tablets) once daily for 7 days. The dose will be enhanced to 50 mg (1 × 50 mg tablet) once daily for 1-week. The dose will be enhanced to 100 mg (1 × 100 mg tablet) once daily for 1-week. The dosage will be enhanced to 200 mg (2 × 100 mg tablets) once daily for 1-week. The dose will be enhanced to 400 mg (4 × 100 mg tablets) once a day.

If you are taking venetoclax dosage alone, you will stay on the 400 mg per day dose, which is the standard dosage, for as long as required. 

Venetoclax in combination with Obinutuzumab: You will start Venetoclax dosing after receiving your first cycle of obinutuzumab doses. You will receive Venetoclax for 12 months.

Venetoclax in combination with rituximab: You will start your rituximab following the initial 5 weeks of Venetoclax. You will receive the medication Venetoclax for 2 years.

Possible Side Effects from Venclexta    

These are not the entire possible side effects you may feel while on venetoclax. In case you have any venetoclax side effects not listed here, contact your health specialist immediately.

• diarrhea
• constipation
• nausea
• vomiting
• decreased appetite
• weight loss
• stomach pain
• swelling of arms, hands, legs, and feet
• weakness
• mouth sores
• shortness of breath
• rash
• fever
• headache
• dizziness
• feeling tired
• cough
• muscle, bone, back, neck and joint pain
• itching

Venetoclax may be responsible for causing abnormal exam and blood test results. Your health specialist will do certain tests prior to and during the treatment. A health specialist will interpret the results. They will let you know in case there are any abnormalities in tests that might require treatment.

Storage and Handling 

• One should store the vials of Venetoclax at 2–8°C (36–46°F) in the original carton to protect from light. 
• Venetoclax is an antineoplastic product so one should handle this medicine with precautions. 

Price and Availability in India

The Venetoclax price is absolutely reasonable. The prices of this medication usually depend on the pharmaceutical firm or company or wholesaler you visit. Venetoclax is available as a brand name medicine only, a generic version is not yet available.