IT-901 May Be Effective in Patients With Richter Syndrome

IT-901, a novel NF-kB inhibitor, may be effective for treating patients with Richter Syndrome, according to a study presented at the XVII International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (iwCLL).¹

Richter Syndrome — the transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) into aggressive lymphoma — occurs in up to 10% of patients with CLL. NF-kB is a pathway implicated in this process.

For this in vivo/in vitro study using patient xenograft models, researchers evaluated the activity of IT-901 in leukemic cells. According to Tiziana Vaisitti, PhD, of the University of Turin, Italy, who presented this study, IT-901 “interfered with the transcriptional activity of NF-kB, induced mitochondrial damage and compromised cell respiration, and induced cell apoptosis.”

IT-901 also significantly reduced tumor size among mice injected with the drug.

Dr Vaisitti noted, however, that alternative pathways for leukemic cell growth were “not checked.”

The authors concluded that “preliminary data show that this compound is active in vivo, in RS-PDX models, significantly reducing tumor growth and suggesting that NF-kB inhibition should be considered as a therapeutic strategy for RS [Richter Syndrome] patients.”

Reference

1. Vaisitti T, Gaudino F, Ouk S, et al. A novel NF-kB inhibitor shows activity in Richter syndrome. Paper presented at: XVII International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia; May 12-15, 2017; New York, NY.