Aplidine, also known as dihydrodidemnin B, is a chemical compound extracted from the ascidian Aplidium albicans.^[1] It is currently undergoing clinical trial testing. It is a member of the class of compounds known as didemnins.

Chemical structure

Aplidine is a cyclic depsipeptide, meaning it is a cyclic peptide in which there is one or more ester bond in place of one or more of a peptide bond. Its chemical structure is very close to that of didemnin B, the only difference being that the lactate residue in didemnin B is present in the oxidized pyruvate version.

Pharmacological activity

Like all didemnin compounds, it exhibits antitumor, antiviral and immunosuppressive activities. It shows promise in shrinking tumors in pancreatic, stomach, bladder, and prostate cancers.^[2][3] As of 2007, it was undergoing multicenter phase II clinical trials.^[3] In July 2003, aplidine was granted orphan drug status by the European Medicines Agency for treating acute lymphoblastic leukemia.^[4]

References

1. ↑
2. ↑ Garrison, Tom. Oceanography: An Invitation to Marine Science 4th ed. United States: Brooks/Cole. 2002. 98.
3. ↑ ^{a b}
4. ↑ Public Summary of Positive Opinion for Orphan Designation of Aplidine for the Treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia