Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: NELARABINE versus NOVANTRONE.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: NELARABINE versus NOVANTRONE.
NELARABINE vs NOVANTRONE
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Nelarabine is a prodrug of ara-G, a deoxyguanosine analog. It is converted to ara-GTP, which accumulates in T-cells and inhibits DNA synthesis, leading to cell death.
Mitoxantrone is a synthetic anthracenedione derivative that intercalates with DNA and inhibits topoisomerase II, leading to DNA strand breaks and inhibition of DNA and RNA synthesis. It also disrupts DNA repair and replication, and has immunosuppressive effects through inhibition of B cell, T cell, and macrophage function.
1500 mg/m2 intravenously over 2 hours on days 1, 3, and 5, repeated every 28 days.
12 mg/m2 IV over 5-15 minutes once daily on days 1-3 of a 28-day cycle, or as a single dose of 12-14 mg/m2 IV every 21 days. For acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, 12 mg/m2 IV daily for 3 days with cytarabine.
None Documented
None Documented
Clinical Note
moderateNelarabine + Digoxin
"Nelarabine may decrease the cardiotoxic activities of Digoxin."
Clinical Note
moderateNelarabine + Digitoxin
"Nelarabine may decrease the cardiotoxic activities of Digitoxin."
Clinical Note
moderateNelarabine + Deslanoside
"Nelarabine may decrease the cardiotoxic activities of Deslanoside."
Clinical Note
moderateNelarabine + Acetyldigitoxin
"Nelarabine may decrease the cardiotoxic activities of Acetyldigitoxin."
Terminal t1/2: 30 hours (range 21-48 h) in adults; prolonged in renal impairment. Ara-G (active metabolite) t1/2: 3 hours.
Terminal elimination half-life: 23-215 hours (mean ~37 hours). The long half-life reflects extensive tissue distribution and slow elimination, allowing weekly dosing.
Renal: 50-60% as unchanged ara-G; fecal: <5% as metabolites; biliary: negligible.
Primarily hepatic (biliary/fecal) elimination: ~25% as unchanged drug and metabolites in feces over 5 days; renal excretion accounts for ~11% (6-11%) as unchanged drug. Less than 10% excreted unchanged in urine.
Category C
Category C
Antineoplastic Agent
Antineoplastic Agent