MedKoo product information:

Annamycin

Description of Annamycin: Annamycin liposomal is a liposome-encapsulated form of the semi-synthetic doxorubicin analogue annamycin with antineoplastic activity. Annamycin intercalates into DNA and inhibits topoisomerase II, resulting in the inhibition of DNA replication and repair and RNA and protein synthesis. This agent circumvents multidrug-resistance (MDR) transporters, including P-glycoprotein (P-gp). Liposomal annamycin is less toxic and shows improved antitumor activity compared to annamycin. Check for active clinical trials or closed clinical trials using this agent. (NCI Thesaurus). 

Current developer:    Callisto Pharmaceuticals

According to Callisto Pharmaceuticals, Annamycin was originally developed at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center to address the clinical limitations associated with current anthracycline drugs (such as doxorubicin) that are used to treat cancer. Anthracyclines, such as doxorubicin and daunarubicin, despite their broad use to treat a number of cancers, have clinical drawbacks limiting their use. Generally, patients become resistant to these drugs and once they relapse are found to be refractory to further use. In addition, the drugs produce cumulative cardio-toxicity (heart damage) which impedes their further use. In animal models, L-Annamycin has shown a very favorable cardio-toxicity profile, and an ability to circumvent the development of resistance to the drug, as well as a very good delivery profile.

In a previous Phase I/IIa trial in refractory acute leukemia patients, L-Annamycin showed encouraging potential in highly-pretreated relapsed patients who were shown to have multi-drug resistant tumors, a condition that normally predicts a lack of anthracycline activity. L-Annamycin has been given orphan drug designation to treat both ALL and AML by the FDA. see: http://www.callistopharma.com/content/pipeline/l-annamycing/index.jsp.

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20: Wasan KM, Morton RE. Differences in lipoprotein concentration and composition modify the plasma distribution of free and liposomal annamycin. Pharm Res. 1996 Mar;13(3):462-8. PubMed PMID: 8692743.

21: Zou Y, Priebe W, Perez-Soler R. Lyophilized preliposomal formulation of the non-cross-resistant anthracycline annamycin: effect of surfactant on liposome formation, stability and size. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 1996;39(1-2):103-8. PubMed PMID: 8995506.

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23: Wasan KM, Perez-Soler R. Distribution of free and liposomal annamycin within human plasma is regulated by plasma triglyceride concentrations but not by lipid transfer protein. J Pharm Sci. 1995 Sep;84(9):1094-100. PubMed PMID: 8537888.

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