Resistance to venetoclax (Venclexta® and Venclyxto®, Abbvie / Genentech), the $2.5 billion blockbuster Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) therapy, is emerging as a therapeutic challenge, with leukemic cells persisting over time, even with combination therapy 1 Studies show that sphingosine kinase 2 (SPHK2) is overexpressed in venetoclax-resistant cancer cells and that SPHK2 inhibition may reduce T-cell-induced activation and proliferation of venetoclax-resistant CLL cancer cells and resensitize previously resistant CLL cells2,3 New in vivo study shows adding opaganib, a potent SPHK2 inhibitor, to venetoclax reduces CLL cell (CD19⁺, CD5⁺) counts by 50% compared to controls and lowered CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ T cell counts compared to controls with lowered PD1 expression (CD8+) 4 Data shows opaganib's venetoclax combination potential in CLL; builds on multiple preclinical studies demonstrating opaganib's therapeutic add-on potential in oncology; further clinical evaluation ongoing in a Phase 2 study of opaganib + darolutamide in advanced prostate cancer Opaganib has a safety and tolerability profile shown in more than 470 clinical trials / expanded access participants. It targets multiple oncology, virology, inflammation, diabetes and obesity indications, with several U.S. government partnerships, including BARDA funding, in place TEL-AVIV, Israel and RALEIGH, N.C.
