BCL-2 Inhibitors
1 drugsAbout BCL-2
BCL-2, or B-cell lymphoma 2, is a protein that regulates programmed cell death (apoptosis), functioning as an anti-apoptotic protein to prevent cell self-destruction. Its role in cell survival makes it a significant target for drug development, particularly where uncontrolled cell proliferation occurs.
While there is currently no genetic evidence directly linking BCL-2 to specific diseases, its role in preventing apoptosis has made it a target for cancer therapy. Inhibiting BCL-2 can induce apoptosis in cancer cells, providing a therapeutic benefit.
The therapeutic potential of BCL-2 is validated by VENCLEXTA (AbbVie), the only approved drug with 3 indications. It is a small molecule and the first drug was approved in 2016.
Strategic Insights
ℹ️ How we calculate- phase1 represents biological uncertainty with 43% completion.
Top Drugs
AbbVie is the only company with an approved BCL-2 targeting drug.
The market is highly concentrated, suggesting high barriers to entry or untapped potential.
Drug Modality Landscape
Modalities
Routes of Administration
Only one approved drug targets BCL-2, using small molecule modality.
Exploring alternative modalities like antibodies or PROTACs could provide differentiation.
Clinical Trials 615 trials
Completion by Phase
| Phase | Total | Completed | Failed | Active | Completion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | 278 | 61 | 65 | 145 | 48% |
| Phase 2 | 270 | 35 | 28 | 204 | 56% |
| Phase 3 | 59 | 15 | 4 | 40 | 79% |
| Phase 4 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 50% |
Top Sponsors
By Modality
Top Conditions
Top Drugs
Phase 3 Readout Calendar Pro
8 Phase 3 trials testing approved BCL-2 drugs across all sponsors.
Coverage: trials whose intervention is an approved drug targeting BCL-2. Pre-approval candidates with development codes (e.g. AZD0901, MK-7240) are not yet linked. Anchored on CT.gov primary completion date.
Drug Approval Timeline (2016 - 2016)
The first and only BCL-2 targeting drug was approved in 2016.
The approval timeline suggests the field is still early, with room for innovation.
Pro Intelligence Preview
Deep insights for drug target analysis
Competitive Landscape
- • 1 companies competing
- • Market share by company
Full Drug Portfolio
- • All 1 approved drugs
- • Approval dates & indications
Genetic Validation
- • Full genetic evidence table
- • Effect sizes & directions
Approval Timeline
- • Full 1-drug timeline
- • First-of-modality markers
Clinical Trials Analysis
- • Competition: High (15 sponsors)
- • Success rates by condition
Full summary • All drugs • Genetic evidence • Trials • Timeline
How We Calculate These Metrics
Target Attractiveness Score
A 0-100 score based on trial activity, sponsor diversity, and completion rates. Calculated from 583 clinical trials targeting BCL-2.
Completion rate: Percentage of trials that reached their planned endpoint. Trials terminated early, withdrawn, or suspended are not counted—these often indicate safety issues, lack of efficacy, or strategic pivots.
- Highly Attractive (80+): High trial activity, many sponsors, strong completion rates
- Attractive (60-79): Good trial activity and validation
- Moderate (40-59): Moderate interest from sponsors
- Low (under 40): Limited trial activity or validation concerns
Strategic Insights
Auto-generated insights based on trial analytics including competition intensity, white space opportunities, modality shifts, and failure patterns. We analyze trial sponsors, phases, indications, and outcomes.
Risk Signals
- High Competition: Many sponsors competing for this target (may reduce market opportunity)
- High Failure Risk: Low trial completion rates suggest development challenges
- Low Validation: Limited trial activity or poor outcomes indicate uncertain viability
- White Space Available: Underexplored indications present opportunities