borofalan (10B)

Borofalan (10B), marketed under the brand name Steboronine, is a boron-10 enriched phenylalanine analog used in Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT). Developed by Stella Pharma in collaboration with Sumitomo Heavy Industries and Osaka University, it is a radiopharmaceutical small molecule designed to selectively accumulate in cancer cells via the L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1). Once the drug has concentrated in the tumor tissue, the patient is irradiated with a low-energy thermal neutron beam (using systems like NeuCure). This triggers a nuclear fission reaction in the boron-10 atoms, releasing high-energy alpha particles and lithium nuclei. These particles have a very short range (approximately 5-9 micrometers), allowing for the targeted destruction of cancer cell DNA while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. It received its first global approval in Japan in March 2020 for the treatment of unresectable locally advanced or locally recurrent head and neck cancer.

Brand names

Steboronine

Other names

4-borono-L-phenylalanine (10B)10B-BPAborofalan4-boronophenylalanine