Abbvie Inc., of North Chicago, chalked up another win for Venclexta (venetoclax), a small molecule designed to selectively bind and inhibit the B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) protein, an anti-apoptotic protein that is pathologically overexpressed and is central to the survival of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells. The FDA has approved, under priority review, the drug in combination with Roche Holding AG's rituximab for the treatment of patients with CLL or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), with or without 17p deletion, who have received at least one prior therapy.