veliparib

Veliparib is an investigational small molecule drug that acts as a potent inhibitor of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) enzymes PARP1 and PARP2. By inhibiting these enzymes involved in DNA repair processes, veliparib induces synthetic lethality in cancer cells with defective homologous recombination repair pathways such as those harboring BRCA mutations. This mechanism prevents the repair of DNA damage in cancer cells and enhances the efficacy of DNA-damaging chemotherapies and radiation therapy. Veliparib has been developed primarily for treatment of various solid tumors including ovarian cancer, breast cancer (including triple-negative subtype), non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), brain metastases from NSCLC, glioblastoma, colorectal cancer and others. It has been studied extensively in combination with chemotherapeutic agents like carboplatin, paclitaxel, temozolomide and others to potentiate their anticancer effects. Despite promising early-phase results showing good tolerability and chemo-sensitizing activity especially in BRCA-mutated cancers or tumors with homologous recombination deficiency (HRD), some phase III trials have failed to meet primary endpoints for certain indications such as triple-negative breast cancer and squamous NSCLC. Veliparib was discovered by Abbott Laboratories researchers and is currently being developed by AbbVie.

Brand names

Veliparib

Other names

(2R)-2-(7-carbamoyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-2-methylpyrrolidinium2-((2R)-2-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)-1H-benzimidazole-4-carboxamide2-[(R)-2-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl]-1H-benzimadazole-4-carboxamide