Asciminib for CML: same new arrow comment

The outlook for patients with chronic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) has improved dramatically since the development in the late 1990s of oral tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) targeting the ATP binding site of the BCR-ABL1 oncoprotein. In this issue of Blood, Rea et al(1) address the management of patients in chronic phase previously treated with >= 2 TKIs in a randomized trial comparing asciminib and bosutinib, which is approved for use in this patient population. Ascinimib (previously known as ABL001) is a small molecule which binds to the myristoyl pocket located at a different site on the BCR-ABL1 protein, producing a conformational change that inhibits downstream signaling.

Automated summary

The outlook for patients with chronic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) has significantly improved in recent years with the development of oral tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). A study comparing asciminib and bosutinib in chronic phase CML patients previously treated with >= 2 TKIs may offer a better management option for this patient population.