BioCentury
ARTICLE | Targets & Mechanisms

New cereblon substrates linked to thalidomide teratogenicity

New drug-dependent cereblon substrates linked to thalidomide teratogenicity

November 7, 2019 9:38 PM UTC

A Celgene-funded study from Tokyo Medical University and the University of Milan has identified two new thalidomide-dependent CRBN substrates that could be applied to screens for new, safer thalidomide derivatives.

Thalidomide and its analogs, collectively called imids, cause a range of teratogenic effects, including limb deformities, ear malformation and heart defects. Thalidomide was banned in the 1960s before gaining approval for multiple myeloma in 1998 as Thalomid from Celgene Corp. (NASDAQ:CELG). The drug and Celgene’s derivatives Revlimid lenalidomide and Pomalyst pomalidomide are marketed for MM, other blood cancers, anemia and erythema nodosum leprosum, a form of leprosy. All three have black box warnings of teratogenicity...