Drug Detail

Information about Yondelis

Generic Name	Trabectedin
IND	ET-743
Brand Name (US)	Yondelis
Manufacturer	Johnson & Johnson
Drug Type
Delivery
Approval Status	Approved in the EU for soft tissue sarcoma
Indications
Overall Strategy	GIST cell based
Strategy	Traditional chemotherapy
Drug Category	Chemotherapy

A substance being studied in the treatment of some types of cancer, especially soft tissue sarcomas like leiomyosarcoma. It may damage the DNA in cancer cells. Ecteinascidin 743 is a type of topoisomerase-I inhibitor. Also called ET-743 and trabectedin.
Results reported in 2004 suggest that it is not an effective treatment for advanced GIST.
Yondelis® (trabectedin; ET-743) is a marine derived antitumoral agent discovered in the colonial tunicate Ecteinascidia turbinata and now produced synthetically. Yondelis has a unique mechanism of action. It binds to the minor groove of DNA interfering with cell division and genetic transcription processes and DNA repair machinery.
Yondelis® has received Marketing Authorization from the European Commission for the treatment of patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma, after failure of anthracyclines and ifosfamide, or who are unsuited to receive these agents.