Tipifarnib (INN,[1]: 213 proposed trade name Zarnestra) is a farnesyltransferase inhibitor. Farnesyltransferase inhibitors block the activity of the farnesyltransferase enzyme by inhibiting prenylation of the CAAX tail motif, which ultimately prevents Ras from binding to the membrane, rendering it inactive.[2]
Tipifarnib was submitted to the FDA by Johnson & Johnson for the treatment of AML in patients aged 65 and over with a new drug application (NDA) to the FDA on January 24, 2005. In June 2005, the FDA issued a "not approvable" letter for tipifarnib.[5]
Kura Oncology in-licensed tipifarnib from Janssen in 2014.[6]
It was shown on a mouse model of Hutchinson–Gilford progeria syndrome that dose-dependent administration of tipifarnib can significantly prevent both the onset of the cardiovascular phenotype as well as the late progression of existing cardiovascular disease.[14]
^Clinical trial number NCT00029354 for "R115777 to Treat Children With Neurofibromatosis Type 1 and Progressive Plexiform Neurofibromas" at ClinicalTrials.gov
^Clinical trial number NCT02383927 for "Phase II Study of Tipifarnib in Squamous Head and Neck Cancer With HRAS Mutations" at ClinicalTrials.gov
^Clinical trial number NCT02464228 for "Study of Tipifarnib in Subjects With Relapsed or Refractory Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma (PTCL)" at ClinicalTrials.gov