OnCo
drugsProductApproved2015🇪🇺🇬🇧🇯🇵🇦🇺

Trabectedin

A chemotherapy derived from a sea squirt, used with liposomal doxorubicin in relapsed ovarian cancer in Europe and for sarcomas.

OVA-301 showed a PFS benefit with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in partially platinum-sensitive relapse; approved in the EU (2009) for ovarian cancer but not in the US for this indication. INOVATYON found no OS advantage over platinum. US approval covers liposarcoma and leiomyosarcoma (2015).

Loading structure…
|
Trabectedin · 2D coordinates (no PubChem conformer)
PubChem
Modality
Cytotoxic (DNA minor-groove binder)
Mechanism
Binds the DNA minor groove, bends DNA, blocks transcription-coupled repair, and modulates tumour-associated macrophages.
Brand / code
Yondelis
Dosing & schedule
Route
Intravenous (central line)
Schedule
1.1 mg/m² with PLD every 3 weeks (ovarian, EU); 1.5 mg/m² 24-hour infusion every 3 weeks (sarcoma)
Monitoring
Liver function, CPK, CBC; dexamethasone premedication
Medicare
Part B (clinician-administered)

Given by infusion or injection in a clinic or hospital outpatient department, so it is a Part B drug: Medicare pays 80% after the Part B deductible and the patient owes 20% coinsurance, uncapped in Original Medicare unless a Medigap policy applies.

Commercial insurance
covered with prior authorisation

Covered under the medical benefit with prior authorisation confirming diagnosis, biomarker status and line of therapy; site-of-care policies may steer infusions away from hospital outpatient departments.

20% Part B coinsurance on a high-cost infusion adds up quickly: Medigap Plan G or N, Medicare Advantage maximum out-of-pocket, Medicaid dual eligibility, or a charity fund are the usual buffers.

Sources: Medicare.gov: Chemotherapy · Medicare.gov: Prescription drugs (outpatient, Part B). Not medical or financial advice; verify with your plan.

NICE recommendedNICE TA185 · 2010SMC: accepted
Appraised for
Advanced soft tissue sarcoma after anthracyclines and ifosfamide
NHS England
Routinely funded for the appraised indication (or via managed access)

Sources: NICE TA185 · SMC advice: trabectedin. Funding decisions are indication-specific and change monthly; verify with NICE and your treating team.

Regulatory

4top

Approvals

RegionYearIndication
EU2009Relapsed platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer with PLD
US2015Liposarcoma and leiomyosarcoma after anthracycline
US2015Unresectable/metastatic liposarcoma or leiomyosarcoma after anthracycline
EU2007Advanced soft-tissue sarcoma after anthracycline/ifosfamide

Safety

5top
Toxicity profile
Adverse eventAny gradeGrade 3+
Neutropenia grade 3-4
OVA-301 combination arm
63%
ALT increase grade 3-4
31%
ALT elevation
ET743-SAR-3007
26%
Neutropenia
37%
Rhabdomyolysis
0.7%

Events listed without rates were not read from a primary source; see the label. Blank cells mean the figure was not sourced, not that it is zero.

Trials

top

Recruiting now (live from ClinicalTrials.gov)

Recruiting trials near you · live from ClinicalTrials.gov
Trabectedin
intervention: Trabectedin
Open on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Country and place are remembered in this browser only. A postcode is sent to OpenStreetMap's Nominatim service to find coordinates when you press the button; nothing else leaves your device.

Latest papers

top
Literature trend50 papers in the last 12 months+22% vs prior 12How this is computed
Latest papers · live from Europe PMC
Open in Europe PMC

Query for this drug: (TITLE:"Trabectedin" OR ABSTRACT:"Trabectedin" OR TITLE:"Yondelis" OR ABSTRACT:"Yondelis") AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about Trabectedin, not a curated reading list.

Connected

6top