Therapeutics: Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC)

Cell culture and mouse studies identified an allosteric inhibitor of ODC that could help treat colon cancer. In silico screening of a compound library and testing of hits in in vitro enzyme assays identified herbacetin as an allosteric inhibitor of ODC with potency comparable to the ODC inhibitor eflornithine. In two human colon cancer cell lines, herbacetin decreased colony formation and cell growth compared with vehicle. In a xenograft mouse model of colon cancer, herbacetin decreased tumor growth and the number and size of polyps in the small intestine. Next steps could include testing the efficacy and safety of herbacetin in models of other cancers.

Allergan plc, Almirall S.A. and Cipher Pharmaceuticals Inc. market Vaniqa eflornithine to treat unwanted facial hair in women...