A new targeted drug, revumenib, was found to increase response rates and survival in patients whose previously treated acute leukemias relapsed or were refractory to treatment. A Phase II clinical study found revumenib met its primary endpoint and was stopped early because of a high patient response rate and clinical efficacy.

Revumenib acts on the hitherto untargeted histone-lysine N-methyltransferase 2A (KMT2A)-rearranged gene, which is present in around 1 in 10 acute leukemias among patients of all ages. The drug inhibits the interaction of the protein menin (associated with tumor suppression) and the KMT2A-fusion protein, which is believed to be an oncogenic driver in leukemias.

OncTimesTalk correspondent Peter Goodwin heard the latest from lead study author Ibrahim Aldoss, MD, Associate Professor in the Division of Leukemia of the Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation at the City of Hope, after his report to the 65th ASH Annual Meeting & Exposition.