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E. coli Asparaginase
E. coli asparaginase depletes the amino acid asparagine in the bloodstream, starving leukemic cells that cannot synthesize their own asparagine.
E. coli asparaginase depletes the amino acid asparagine in the bloodstream, starving leukemic cells that cannot synthesize their own asparagine. Used for Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), Acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
At a glance
| Generic name | E. coli Asparaginase |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Dana-Farber Cancer Institute |
| Drug class | Enzyme |
| Target | Asparagine |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Oncology |
| Phase | Phase 3 |
Mechanism of action
Asparaginase is an enzyme derived from E. coli that catalyzes the hydrolysis of asparagine to aspartic acid and ammonia. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells are often auxotrophic for asparagine and depend on circulating asparagine for survival and proliferation. By depleting systemic asparagine levels, the enzyme selectively inhibits protein synthesis in leukemic blasts while normal cells can synthesize asparagine endogenously.
Approved indications
- Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
- Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
Common side effects
- Hypersensitivity reactions
- Pancreatitis
- Hepatotoxicity
- Coagulopathy
- Hyperglycemia
- Neurotoxicity
Key clinical trials
- 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 Testing the Combination of Dasatinib or Imatinib to Chemotherapy Treatment With Blinatumomab for Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults With Philadelphia Chromosome Positive (Ph+) or ABL-Class Philadelphia Chromosome-Like (Ph-Like) B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL) (PHASE3)
- Studying the Effect of Levocarnitine in Protecting the Liver From Chemotherapy for Leukemia or Lymphoma (PHASE3)
- Inotuzumab Ozogamicin and Post-Induction Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With High-Risk B-ALL, Mixed Phenotype Acute Leukemia, and B-LLy (PHASE3)
- Imatinib Mesylate and Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Newly Diagnosed Philadelphia Chromosome Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (PHASE3)
- Inotuzumab Ozogamicin in Treating Younger Patients With B-Lymphoblastic Lymphoma or Relapsed or Refractory CD22 Positive B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (PHASE2)
- 05-001: Treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Children (PHASE3)
- Erwinase Master Treatment Protocol
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:
- E. coli Asparaginase CI brief — competitive landscape report
- E. coli Asparaginase updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute portfolio CI