asparaginase (medac GmbH)

Recombinant E. coli asparaginase is a recombinant enzyme-based antineoplastic agent used primarily in the treatment of pediatric and adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). It is produced using recombinant DNA technology in *Escherichia coli*, resulting in a highly purified form of the L-asparaginase enzyme. The drug's mechanism of action involves the hydrolysis of the non-essential amino acid L-asparagine into L-aspartic acid and ammonia. While normal cells can synthesize L-asparagine de novo via asparagine synthetase, certain leukemic cells lack this enzyme and depend on systemic L-asparagine for protein synthesis. Systemic depletion of L-asparagine by the drug leads to the inhibition of protein synthesis and subsequent apoptosis in these malignant cells. Spectrila was the first recombinant *E. coli* asparaginase approved in the European Union, offering a purified alternative to native *E. coli*-derived asparaginase with comparable pharmacodynamic exposure.

Brand names

Spectrila

Other names

recombinant E. coli asparaginaserecombinant L-asparaginaseL-asparaginase