DEP cabazitaxel (Starpharma)

**DEP cabazitaxel** is a clinical-stage, patented dendrimer nanoparticle formulation of the taxane chemotherapy agent cabazitaxel, developed by Starpharma to improve upon the conventional cabazitaxel (marketed as Jevtana). It enhances water solubility, eliminates toxic excipients like polysorbate-80 linked to anaphylaxis and hypersensitivity, and removes the need for steroid premedication. As a microtubule stabilizer, it binds tubulin to inhibit microtubule depolymerization, arresting cell division and inducing apoptosis in rapidly proliferating cancer cells. Preclinical and phase 2 data show superior tolerability with reduced severe bone marrow toxicity (e.g., neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia), longer progression-free survival in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC; median 3.9 months vs. 2.9 months for standard cabazitaxel), and efficacy signals including tumor shrinkage and PSA reductions across prostate, ovarian, gastro-oesophageal, cholangiocarcinoma, and head/neck cancers.[1][2][3]