Lisaftoclax Plus Azacitidine May Make New Inroads in Higher-Risk MDS Management: With Guillermo Garcia-Manero, MD

In today’s episode, the discussion features Guillermo Garcia-Manero, MD, who reviewed the clinical rationale for targeting BCL-2 in higher-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and outlined the phase 3 GLORA-4 trial (NCT06641414) evaluating lisaftoclax (APG-2575) plus azacitidine (Vidaza) in this population. Dr Garcia-Manero is the chair ad interim in the Department of Leukemia in the Division of Cancer Medicine, as well as leader of the MDS/AML Moon Shot Program, at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

In the exclusive interview, Dr Garcia-Manero contextualized lisaftoclax as a next-generation BCL-2 inhibitor being advanced as a hypomethylating agent (HMA) partner strategy intended to improve on outcomes historically achieved with azacitidine alone in higher-risk MDS. He emphasized that GLORA-4 is designed as a registrational, randomized trial to rigorously assess whether adding BCL-2 inhibition to standard HMAs can meaningfully deepen responses and translate into clinically relevant benefit. He also characterized the regimen’s tolerability profile in a population that often requires careful supportive care and dose management.