arginine butyrate

**Arginine butyrate** is an investigational short-chain fatty-acid salt of L-arginine and butyrate, also developed as HQK-1004 and VX-105. Its butyrate component inhibits histone deacetylases, increasing histone H3/H4 acetylation and altering gene expression. In Epstein-Barr virus-positive lymphoid malignancies, it can induce expression of the latent viral thymidine kinase gene, enabling co-administered ganciclovir or valganciclovir to be activated within infected tumor cells. The agent was studied intravenously for fetal-hemoglobin induction in sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia, including refractory sickle-cell leg ulcers, and was evaluated with antiviral therapy in EBV-positive lymphoid malignancies and lymphoproliferative disorders. ([cancer.gov](https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-drug/def/arginine-butyrate))

Other names

arginine butanoateL-arginine, butanoate (3:4)short chain fatty acid HQK-1004