Flavopiridol. National Cancer Institute.

Flavopiridol is a synthetic flavonoid inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases, which is under development by Aventis Pharma (formerly Hoechst Marion Roussel) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for the potential treatment of cancer and proliferative disorders. By May 2001, the product was in phase IIa trials and had achieved proof-of-concept in phase I/IIa trials as a monotherapy. At this time, Aventis expected a global submission to take place in 2003 [409257]. By July 1999, the compound had entered phase II trials for gastric cancer and leukemia, and phase I/II trials for esophageal tumor and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) [277372], [325929], [331850]. Phase II trials for colon and renal cancer [411684], [411769] and phase I trials for prostate cancer [279466] have also been reported. Analysts Merrill Lynch predicted in September and November 2000 that the product would be launched by 2003, with sales of EUR 50 million in that year, rising to EUR 100 million in 2004 [383742], [391426]. In April 1999, ABN Amro predicted annual sales of DM 100 million in 2002 [328676].