cordycepin + pentostatin

Cordycepin + pentostatin is a combination of two small molecule drugs used experimentally and in early clinical trials for the treatment of certain cancers and parasitic infections. Cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine) is an adenosine analog with antitumor and antiparasitic properties, but it is rapidly degraded by the enzyme adenosine deaminase (ADA). Pentostatin (deoxycoformycin) is a potent inhibitor of ADA, co-administered to prevent cordycepin degradation and enhance its efficacy. The combination has shown curative effects in animal models of Trypanosoma evansi infection and has been investigated in phase I/II clinical trials for relapsed or refractory TdT-positive leukemia. Mechanistically, cordycepin acts as an RNA chain terminator after incorporation into RNA, leading to inhibition of RNA synthesis and cell death; pentostatin prolongs its activity by inhibiting ADA[1][2][4][5][7][9].

Brand names

Nipent

Other names

cordycepin plus pentostatin3'-deoxyadenosine + deoxycoformycin