AbbVie's Venclexta Misses Goal in Myelodysplastic Syndromes Study

Core Insights - AbbVie announced that the phase III VERONA study failed to meet its primary endpoint of overall survival for the combination therapy of Venclexta and azacitidine in newly diagnosed patients with higher-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) [1][7] - The study showed a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.908, indicating no significant reduction in the risk of death compared to the control group [2][7] - Despite this setback, AbbVie continues to expand its oncology pipeline, which now includes five marketed therapies and late-stage assets [9][10] AbbVie's Stock Performance - Year to date, AbbVie shares have risen by 8%, outperforming the industry growth of 3% [4] Venclexta's Market Performance - Venclexta generated $665 million in sales for AbbVie in the first three months of 2025, reflecting a 12% year-over-year increase, driven by strong demand for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) indications [6] Oncology Pipeline Expansion - AbbVie has diversified its oncology portfolio, adding therapies such as Epkinly, Elahere, and Emrelis, alongside its established drugs Imbruvica and Venclexta [9] - The company is developing promising new therapies, including etentamig for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma and Temab-A for metastatic colorectal cancer and gastroesophageal cancer [10][11] Collaboration with Roche - Venclexta is marketed in partnership with Roche, with AbbVie holding commercialization rights outside the United States [8]