C3

C3 is a combination therapy regimen consisting of three repurposed FDA-approved small molecule drugs: metformin, simvastatin, and digoxin. Developed by the State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Medical Center, the C3 combination was identified through high-throughput screening of drug libraries for its ability to target proteins essential for the progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Specifically, the regimen downregulates the expression of pancreaticoduodenal homeobox 1 (PDX1) and baculoviral inhibitor of apoptosis repeat-containing 5 (BIRC5, also known as survivin). PDX1 is a transcription factor that drives PDAC growth, while BIRC5 is an anti-apoptotic protein. The therapy is currently being evaluated in Phase 2 clinical trials, often in combination with gemcitabine, for patients with recurrent or refractory metastatic advanced pancreatic cancer.

Other names

metformin + simvastatin + digoxinC3 combination therapyC-3 combination therapyC 3 combination therapyC3 regimenC-3 regimenC 3 regimen