Safety and Efficacy of Venetoclax in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Summary

Based on preclinical data, investigators hypothesize that apoptosis resistance in monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) have a decisive role in the development of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Specifically, macrophages from subjects with IPF have increased expression of Bcl-2 in mitochondria. In preclinical models of IPF, a conditional deletion of Bcl-2 in MDMs reverses established fibrosis by inducing apoptosis. Additional evidence to suggest that Bcl-2 expression in MDM mitochondria is a therapeutic target for IPF as administration of the Bcl-2 inhibitor, ABT-199 (Venetoclax), showed marked efficacy in preclinical models of IPF by inducing apoptosis of MDMs and reversing established fibrosis. ABT-199 is an orally available mimetic of the BH3 domain of Bcl-2, which is the domain the anchors Bcl-2 in the mitochondria to inhibit apoptosis. ABT-199 has shown therapeutic efficacy and good safety and tolerability in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Investigators anticipate that treatment with ABT-199 could result in significant benefit for IPF patients that have a life expectancy of 3-5 years. As there is no curative therapy for IPF, this clinical trial has the potential to substantially alter treatment approaches in patients with IPF.

Timeline

Start

2023-10-01

Primary completion

2024-03-18

Completion

2024-03-20

Publications

• Results Larson-Casey JL, Deshane JS, Ryan AJ, Thannickal VJ, Carter AB. Macrophage Akt1 Kinase-Mediated Mitophagy Modulates Apoptosis Resistance and Pulmonary Fibrosis. Immunity. 2016 Mar 15;44(3):582-596. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2016.01.001. Epub 2016 Feb 23.
• Results Larson-Casey JL, Murthy S, Ryan AJ, Carter AB. Modulation of the mevalonate pathway by akt regulates macrophage survival and development of pulmonary fibrosis. J Biol Chem. 2014 Dec 26;289(52):36204-19. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M114.593285. Epub 2014 Nov 5.
• Results Larson-Casey JL, Gu L, Kang J, Dhyani A, Carter AB. NOX4 regulates macrophage apoptosis resistance to induce fibrotic progression. J Biol Chem. 2021 Jul;297(1):100810. doi: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100810. Epub 2021 May 21.
• Results Larson-Casey JL, Gu L, Davis D, Cai GQ, Ding Q, He C, Carter AB. Post-translational regulation of PGC-1alpha modulates fibrotic repair. FASEB J. 2021 Jun;35(6):e21675. doi: 10.1096/fj.202100339R.
• Results Gu L, Surolia R, Larson-Casey JL, He C, Davis D, Kang J, Antony VB, Carter AB. Targeting Cpt1a-Bcl-2 interaction modulates apoptosis resistance and fibrotic remodeling. Cell Death Differ. 2022 Jan;29(1):118-132. doi: 10.1038/s41418-021-00840-w. Epub 2021 Aug 20.

Drugs

Indications