Rabacfosadine is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (a type of cancer that affects the bone marrow). It is a type of chemotherapy drug that works by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells. Rabacfosadine is usually given as an intravenous (IV) infusion, which is a way of delivering medication directly into the bloodstream. It is also used for the treatment of lymphoma in dogs. Common side effects of this medicine include nausea, fatigue, and low white blood cell count.
Rabacfosadine is a medication specifically used to treat lymphoma in dogs [1, 2]. It's sold under the brand name Tanovea [1]. Here's a breakdown of key points about Rabacfosadine:
Function:
- Classified as a guanine nucleotide analog, a type of medication that disrupts cancer cell growth [2].
- Acts as a prodrug, meaning it's converted into its active form inside the body [2].
- The active form interferes with DNA synthesis in cancer cells, ultimately leading to their death [2].
Use in Dogs:
- Primarily used to treat multicentric lymphoma, a common cancer affecting multiple lymph nodes in dogs [2, 3].
- It can be effective for both newly diagnosed (naive) and relapsed canine lymphoma [3, 4].
Administration:
- Administered intravenously (injected into a vein) by a veterinarian typically every 21 days [3, 4].
Important Considerations:
- Rabacfosadine is a prescription medication and should only be given to dogs under the supervision of a veterinarian [1].
- While generally well-tolerated, some potential side effects include neutropenia (low white blood cell count), gastrointestinal signs (vomiting, diarrhea), and lethargy [3].
- It's not suitable for all dogs and may interact with other medications. Consult your veterinarian before using Rabacfosadine on your dog.
Additional Information:
- Rabacfosadine was originally developed for use in humans but is no longer pursued for that purpose [2].
- It received full approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2021 specifically for treating canine lymphoma [1].