We show that rather than inducing intrinsic apoptotic cell death through inhibition of Bcl-2, BAU-243 disrupts the interaction between Beclin 1 and Bcl-2 by binding to the BH3 domain binding groove of Bcl-2 with a high affinity, and induces autophagic death of GBM cells. The gene discussed is BCL2; the disease is glioblastoma.