Welcome to “A to Z: Drugs in Highlight”
As the world of pharmaceuticals continues to evolve with new discoveries and emerging challenges, we aim to shed light on the diverse array of medications available today, ranging from blockbuster medications to those that may not be as familiar. Join us on this educational journey through the alphabet of pharmaceutical drugs. Whether you’re a healthcare professional, a student, or simply someone with a curious mind, “A to Z: Drugs in Highlight” promises to be an enlightening and engaging series.
E is for ERIVEDGE®
ERIVEDGE® (from Genentech, Inc.) uses vismodegib for treating adults with advanced basal cell carcinoma (a slow growing form of skin cancer).
How it works:
ERIVEDGE® contains the active substance vismodegib. Vismodegib disrupts the ‘Hedgehog signalling pathway’. The ‘Hedgehog signalling pathway’ is typically involved in regulating the early stages of cell development in foetuses and various cellular process in adults. In cases of basal cell carcinoma, this pathway becomes dysregulated, leading to growth and spread of cancerous cells. Vismodegib works by binding to a protein known as SMO, which plays a key role in activating the Hedgehog signalling pathway. By inhibiting SMO, vismodegib effectively blocks this pathway, thereby decelerating the proliferation and spread of cancer cells associated with basal cell carcinoma.
Marketing approval:
ERIVEDGE® is approved for marketing in both the United States (approved by the FDA in January 2012) and Europe (approved by the EMA in July 2013).
Patent protection:
There are a number of patent rights protecting aspects of ERIVEDGE® in the United States and Europe (as well as in many other countries around the world). For example, granted US patent no. 7888364 and granted European patent no. 1789390 relate to pyridyl inhibitors of hedgehog signalling having the general formula
US9278961 relates to a method of treating cancer in a mammal and US9321761 relates to a process of preparing the pyridyl inhibitors.