DSB-8

DSB-8 is a synthetic C-ring modified prodigiosene derivative developed by researchers at Dalhousie University as a potential therapeutic for leukemia. It belongs to a class of compounds derived from the naturally occurring tripyrrole pigment prodigiosin, which is known for its anti-cancer properties but limited by toxicity. DSB-8 was designed to maintain anti-leukemic potency while improving the safety profile. In preclinical zebrafish xenograft models of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), DSB-8 demonstrated cytostatic activity, effectively inhibiting the proliferation and migration of human K562 leukemia cells. It has also shown in vitro activity against various leukemia cell lines in the NCI-60 panel, including CCRF-CEM and MOLT-4.