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Krestin (PSK)
PSK (polysaccharide K) is a fungal-derived immunomodulator that enhances immune cell activity to support anti-tumor responses.
PSK (polysaccharide K) is a fungal-derived immunomodulator that enhances immune cell activity to support anti-tumor responses. Used for Gastric cancer (adjunctive therapy), Colorectal cancer (adjunctive therapy), Lung cancer (adjunctive therapy).
At a glance
| Generic name | Krestin (PSK) |
|---|---|
| Also known as | PSK |
| Sponsor | Hokuriku-Kinki Immunochemotherapy Study Group |
| Drug class | Immunomodulator |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Oncology |
| Phase | Phase 3 |
Mechanism of action
PSK is a beta-glucan polysaccharide extracted from the mushroom Trametes versicolor that activates macrophages, natural killer cells, and T lymphocytes to strengthen immune surveillance against cancer cells. It is believed to work by binding to pattern recognition receptors on immune cells, thereby potentiating both innate and adaptive immune responses. PSK has been studied primarily as an adjunctive immunotherapy in combination with chemotherapy or surgery for various cancers.
Approved indications
- Gastric cancer (adjunctive therapy)
- Colorectal cancer (adjunctive therapy)
- Lung cancer (adjunctive therapy)
Common side effects
- Gastrointestinal disturbance
- Allergic reaction
- Fever
Key clinical trials
- Nivolumab in Combination With Chemo-Immunotherapy for the Treatment of Newly Diagnosed Primary Mediastinal B-Cell Lymphoma (PHASE3)
- Novel Combination Therapy in the Treatment of Relapsed and Refractory Aggressive B-Cell Lymphoma (PHASE2)
- Improving White Blood Cell Collection From Healthy Donors (PHASE4)
- A Study of Zilovertamab Vedotin (MK-2140) in Combination With Standard of Care in Participants With Relapsed or Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (rrDLBCL) (MK-2140-003) (PHASE2, PHASE3)
- Virotherapy and Natural History Study of KHSV-Associated Multricentric Castleman s Disease With Correlates of Disease Activity (PHASE2)
- Modular Clinical Pharmacology Study to Evaluate the Drug-drug Interaction Potential and Relative Bioavailability of Saruparib (PHASE1)
- A Trial Comparing Three Different Treatment Options for Adults With Low-Risk Myelodysplasia and Anemia (A MyeloMATCH Treatment Trial) (PHASE2)
- MYELOMATCH: A Screening Study to Assign People With Myeloid Cancer to a Treatment Study or Standard of Care Treatment Within myeloMATCH (MyeloMATCH Screening Trial) (PHASE2)
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:
- Krestin (PSK) CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Krestin (PSK) updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Hokuriku-Kinki Immunochemotherapy Study Group portfolio CI