Drug evaluation: MGCD-0103, a histone deacetylase inhibitor for the treatment of cancer.

MethylGene Inc, in collaboration with Pharmion Corp, is developing the small-molecule, isoform-selective compound MGCD-0103 in North America for the potential treatment of cancer. MGCD-0103 is currently undergoing phase II clinical trials in patients with lymphoma, leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes and solid tumors, including pancreatic carcinoma. Taiho Pharmaceutical Co Ltd is evaluating MGCD-0103 for oncological indications in South East Asia.