daunorubicin and cytarabine

Daunorubicin and cytarabine (CPX-351) is a liposomal fixed-dose combination of the antimetabolite cytarabine and the anthracycline daunorubicin hydrochloride, formulated in a synergistic 5:1 molar ratio. This formulation is designed to maintain the optimal synergistic ratio of the two drugs within the bone marrow and leukemic cells, enhancing therapeutic efficacy while potentially reducing systemic toxicity. Cytarabine acts as a pyrimidine analog that inhibits DNA polymerase and is incorporated into DNA, leading to chain termination. Daunorubicin intercalates into DNA and inhibits topoisomerase II, causing DNA strand breaks and inhibiting nucleic acid synthesis. The drug is primarily indicated for the treatment of adults with newly-diagnosed therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia (t-AML) or AML with myelodysplasia-related changes (AML-MRC). It was originally developed by Celator Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Jazz Pharmaceuticals) and is licensed to Nippon Shinyaku for development and commercialization in Japan.

Brand names

Vyxeos

Other names

cytarabine + daunorubicin hydrochloridedaunorubicin and cytarabine liposomeliposomal cytarabine and daunorubicin