Last reviewed · How we verify
Dexamethasone (IV)
Dexamethasone is a synthetic glucocorticoid that suppresses the immune system and reduces inflammation by binding to glucocorticoid receptors in the cytoplasm.
Dexamethasone is a synthetic glucocorticoid that suppresses the immune system and reduces inflammation by binding to glucocorticoid receptors in the cytoplasm. Used for Adjunctive treatment in cancer therapy to manage inflammation and treatment-related adverse effects, Cerebral edema associated with brain tumors, Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV).
At a glance
| Generic name | Dexamethasone (IV) |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Decadron, Aacidexam (IV), Decadron®, Dexamethasone Intensol®, Dexpak® |
| Sponsor | Cancer Trials Ireland |
| Drug class | Glucocorticoid (corticosteroid) |
| Target | Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Oncology, Immunology, Inflammation |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Dexamethasone enters cells and binds to intracellular glucocorticoid receptors, which then translocate to the nucleus and modulate gene transcription. This leads to decreased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, reduced immune cell activation and proliferation, and suppression of inflammatory responses. It is commonly used as an adjunctive therapy in oncology to manage treatment-related side effects and inflammation.
Approved indications
- Adjunctive treatment in cancer therapy to manage inflammation and treatment-related adverse effects
- Cerebral edema associated with brain tumors
- Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV)
Common side effects
- Hyperglycemia
- Insomnia
- Increased appetite
- Mood changes (agitation, anxiety)
- Immunosuppression / increased infection risk
- Hypertension
- Gastrointestinal upset
Key clinical trials
- Novel Combination Therapy in the Treatment of Relapsed and Refractory Aggressive B-Cell Lymphoma (PHASE2)
- Testing the Addition of the Anti-cancer Drug Venetoclax and/or the Anti-cancer Immunotherapy Blinatumomab to the Usual Chemotherapy Treatment for Infants With Newly Diagnosed KMT2A-rearranged or KMT2A-non-rearranged Leukemia (PHASE2)
- A Study of Sacituzumab Tirumotecan (Sac-TMT, MK-2870) as Monotherapy and in Combination With Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) in Participants With Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (MK-2870-011/TroFuse-011) (PHASE3)
- A Clinical Study of Sacituzumab Tirumotecan (Sac-TMT, MK-2870) in People With Breast Cancer (MK-2870-032) (PHASE3)
- A Study to Investigate Blinatumomab in Combination With Chemotherapy in Patients With Newly Diagnosed B-Lymphoblastic Leukemia (PHASE3)
- CB-839 HCl in Combination With Carfilzomib and Dexamethasone in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Refractory Multiple Myeloma (PHASE1)
- Sacituzumab Tirumotecan (MK-2870) Versus Pemetrexed and Carboplatin Combination Therapy in Participants With Epidermal Growth Factor (EGFR)-Mutated, Advanced Nonsquamous Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Who Have Progressed on Prior EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (MK-2870-009) (PHASE3)
- A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Sacituzumab Tirumotecan (MK-2870) Maintenance Treatment Versus Standard of Care in Participants With Platinum-sensitive Recurrent Ovarian Cancer (MK-2870-022/TroFuse-022/ENGOT-ov84/GOG-3103) (PHASE3)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial 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:
- Dexamethasone (IV) CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Dexamethasone (IV) updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Cancer Trials Ireland portfolio CI