Pixuvri® (Pixantrone Dimaleate, BBR 2778): From Lab to Market

This review will trace the steps in the development of pixantrone dimaleate (initial code BBR 2778, Pixruvi®), an anthracenedione chemotype, as a chemotherapeutic agent. This drug exhibits reduced cardiotoxicity in comparison to anthracyclines and mitoxantrone. Synthetic pathways, biological evaluations and mechanistic considerations will be discussed. On May 10, 2012, the European Medicines Agency granted a conditional marketing approval to CTI Biopharma for pixantrone dimaleate for the treatment of adults suffering from multiple relapsed or refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphomas (NHL). Potential applications of pixantrone dimaleate for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and other maladies will be presented.