He and other Geron researchers tested the anticancer drug melphalan (marketed as
Alkeran) and an anti-telomerase agent on mice with melanoma, a lethal skin cancer.
P List (a) U List (b) Epinephrine (adrenaline) P042 Chlorambucil (Leukeran) U035 Nicotine P075 Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, Neosar, Procytox) U058 Nitroglycerine P081 Daunomycin (Dauorubicin, Cerubidine) U059 Physostigmine P204 Diethylstilbestrol U089 Physostigmine salicylate P188 Melphalan (
Alkeran) U150 Warfarin > 0.3% P001 Mitomycin C (Mutamycin) U010 Paraldehyde U182 Phenacetin U187 Reserpine U200 Saccharin U202 Selenium sulfide U205 (e.g., dandruff shampoos) Streptozocin (Zanosar) U206 Uracil mustard U237 Warfarin (Coumadin) < 0.3% U248 (a) Representative P-listed drugs (some have other uses).
(14) The pharmacist mistook chlorambucil, the generic drug prescribed by her physician, for
alkeran, the generic name for Melphalen--a substantially more powerful prescription drug that requires more careful monitoring.
* Where the method of administration is critical--for example, avoiding or treating extravasation of
Alkeran.
According to the company, EVOMELA was approved by the US FDA based on its bioequivalence to the standard melphalan formulation (
Alkeran) in a Phase 2 clinical study (Aljitawi et al., Bone Marrow Transplant, 2014) via the 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway.