Asentar

Asentar is a proprietary, high‑dose oral formulation of calcitriol, the hormonally active form of vitamin D3, that was developed as an adjunctive cancer therapy, particularly for androgen‑independent (castration‑resistant) prostate cancer in combination with docetaxel chemotherapy. It was engineered to deliver a single, predictable high dose of calcitriol suitable for anticancer regimens while attempting to avoid the gastrointestinal and absorption limitations of earlier multi‑capsule, high‑dose calcitriol approaches. Calcitriol exerts pleiotropic effects via the vitamin D receptor, including modulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and immune responses, which formed the biological rationale for its development in oncology. Asentar advanced to phase 3 clinical testing under a global development and commercialization agreement with Schering (Schering‑Plough), but the pivotal trial in androgen‑independent prostate cancer was halted after an imbalance in deaths between treatment arms, and Novacea subsequently terminated further development of the product.

Brand names

Asentar

Other names

calcitriol1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D31,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol