Zalypsis^® is a new marine derived compound in Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of endometrial and cervical cancer. Zalypsis^® is a novel chemical entity related to the marine natural compounds Jorumycin and the family of Renieramycins, obtained from molluscs and sponges, respectively. Zalypsis^® has cytotoxic effects dependent on DNA binding that are not associated with DNA damage. Zalypsis^® demonstrated strong in vitro activity in pre-clinical studies, against a wide variety of solid and haematological tumour cell lines and also in human transplantable breast, gastric, prostate and renal xenografted tumours. Zalypsis^® also demonstrated a manageable and reversible toxicology profile in preclinical models.

 

A new study presented in 2008 at 50th annual conference of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) and published in ‘Blood’ concluded that Zalypsis^® is "one of the most powerful agents" that have been evaluated against multiple myeloma.