Vandetanib

Vandetanib is a kind of small molecule multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor studied and developed by the British AstraZeneca Company. In April 2011, it was approved the US FDA for entering into market under the trade name Zactima. The drug, as a tablet, can be applied to the treatment of advanced medullary thyroid cancer of adult patients.
Vandetanib is a multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and belongs to the Anilinoquinazoline compounds, called "second generation Iressa”. It not only acts on the tumor cells, EGFR, VEGFR and RET tyrosine kinases, but can also inhibit other kind of tyrosine kinases and serine/threonine kinases. Vandetanib is the first approved drugs approved for treatment of medullary thyroid carcinoma. It is suitable for treating unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic-symptoms or progressive medullary thyroid carcinoma. A randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial results have showed that vandetanib can significantly delay the progression time of locally advanced or metastatic medullary thyroid cancer. The recommended daily dose is 300 mg (oral), when the patient exhibits tolerance to drugs or being not able to tolerate the toxicity, they should stop treatment immediately. Those most common adverse reactions of this medicine include diarrhea, rash, acne, nausea, hypertension, headache, fatigue, loss of appetite and abdominal pain. The adverse reactions is dose-related; at <300 mg/d, the patient has a well tolerance with the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) being 300mg. There are many kinds disease types contained in the Ⅱ phase clinical study. The NSCLC clinical trials of vandetanib are currently under way for China.
British AstraZeneca Company, in May 2001 and October 2001, respectively, had obtained preferential access to the world's patent (WO2001032651, WO 2001074360) and applied corresponding protection on the formula, synthesis methods and pharmaceutical compositions of these compounds (including bonus salt). Vandetanib can inhibit the development of medullary thyroid carcinoma, and is the first FDA-approved drug for the treatment of the disease and will provide support for the treatment of advanced medullary thyroid cancer in adult patients.