Drug Detail

Information about Zolinza

Generic Name
Vorinostat
IND
MK0683
Brand Name (US)
Zolinza
Manufacturer
Merck
Drug Type
HDAC inhibitor
Delivery
Oral
Approval Status
Approved for a non-GIST cancer
Indications
CTCL
Overall Strategy
GIST cell based
Strategy
Block KIT + Unblock cell death genes
Drug Category
HDAC inhibitor

Vorinostat is a HDAC inhibitor. It is approved for Cutaneous T-cell llymphoma (CTCL).
Research has shown that histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors are able to cause significant regression in a Gleevec-resistant xenografts model (mouse model) and GIST cell lines. HDAC inhibitors are a new class of drugs that have shown anti-cancer activity in three major ways:

* Inducing apoptosis
* Arresting the cell cycle
* By destabilizing certain cancer-causing proteins such as bcr-abl (and possibly KIT). This may occur because HDAC inhibitors cause hsp90 to become inactive, possibly resulting in the destruction of the KIT protein.

Another way that HDAC inhibitors might accomplish their effects is by “turning on” some tumor suppressor genes that have been silenced.
HDAC inhibitors are in various stages of development.

* Istodax is FDA approved for CTCL.
* Zolinza (vorinostat) is FDA approved for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL).
* LBH589 – Is in phase 3 trials and a combination trial with imatinib for GIST (Phase I).
* Others


Links

 

Zolinza.com
   

 

ACT (accessing coverage today) program.
   

 

Zolinza prescribing information
   

Trials of this drug


Trial results


Search for this drug/combination in:

ClinicalTrials.gov

ASCO

Pubmed