In addition to being an investigational pan-BCR-ABL inhibitor for use in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), ponatinib inhibits certain other tyrosine kinases, including a specific mutation of FLT3 called the internal tandem duplication (ITD) which is associated AML.
ARIAD clinical research and development vice president and CMO Frank Haluska said the safety and response data of ponatinib seen in these advanced AML patients highlight the potential of ponatinib in AML patients with alterations in FLT3, a target against which its activity is similar to that already observed in CML patients.
"With these data, we are planning the next steps in the clinical development of ponatinib in AML patients with the FLT3-ITD mutation where ponatinib offers the better treatments in this form of leukemia," Haluska said.