Xaliproden

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Xaliproden

Xaliproden is a drug that was under development for the treatment of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. It was developed by Sanofi-Aventis, but its development was discontinued in 2006 due to unfavorable results in phase III clinical trials.

History

Sanofi-Aventis, a global pharmaceutical company, began the development of Xaliproden in the early 2000s. The drug was intended to treat Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, a common side effect of cancer treatment.

Mechanism of Action

Xaliproden is a serotonin 1A receptor agonist. The serotonin 1A receptor is a subtype of the serotonin receptor, which is a group of G protein-coupled receptors and ligand-gated ion channels found in the central and peripheral nervous systems. By acting on this receptor, Xaliproden was believed to have neuroprotective effects.

Clinical Trials

Xaliproden underwent phase III clinical trials for the treatment of ALS and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. However, the results were not favorable, and Sanofi-Aventis discontinued the development of the drug in 2006.

Discontinuation

The discontinuation of Xaliproden's development was a significant setback for Sanofi-Aventis. The company had invested heavily in the drug's development, and the failure of the phase III trials represented a significant financial loss.

See Also

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy
• Sanofi-Aventis
• Serotonin 1A receptor