Last reviewed · How we verify

Broxuridine (bromodeoxyuridine)

National Cancer Institute (NCI) · discontinued Small molecule

Broxuridine works by mimicking the structure of thymidine, a building block of DNA, and inhibiting the enzyme thymidine kinase, which is necessary for DNA replication.

Broxuridine, also known as bromodeoxyuridine, is a small molecule drug developed by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) that targets thymidine kinase, a key enzyme in DNA synthesis. It is classified as a broxuridine and works by inhibiting DNA replication, making it a potential treatment for various cancers. However, its commercial status and approved indications are unknown, and it has not been FDA-approved. As a result, its availability, safety, and efficacy are not well-established. Further research is needed to fully understand its potential as a cancer treatment.

At a glance

Generic namebromodeoxyuridine
Also known as5-BrdU, 5-bromodeoxyuridine, BrdU, broxuridine
SponsorNational Cancer Institute (NCI)
Drug classbroxuridine
TargetThymidine kinase, cytosolic, Thymidylate kinase
ModalitySmall molecule
Therapeutic areaOncology
Phasediscontinued

Mechanism of action

Imagine your body's cells are constantly making copies of their DNA to grow and repair themselves. Broxuridine gets in the way of this process by tricking the cell into thinking it's a normal building block of DNA. This prevents the cell from making new copies of its DNA, which can slow down or stop the growth of cancer cells.

Approved indications

No approved indications tracked.

Common side effects

No common side effects on file.

Key clinical trials

Primary sources

Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.

SourceUsed for
ClinicalTrials.govTrial enrolment, design, endpoints, results

Competitive intelligence

For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape: