SUMMARY

Despite the success of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia, there are some patients who fail these drugs because of intolerance or lack of efficacy. Asciminib is a first-in-class STAMP-inhibitor (Specifically Targeting the ABL Myristoyl Pocket) and has a different mode of action as the classical tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Clinical trials, most recently the phase III ASCEMBL trial, show clinical activity in heavily pre-treated patients with an acceptable safety profile. Asciminib therefore forms a promising treatment option for those patients failing the currently available drugs.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2022;13(6):243–8)