🧪 Molecular Insights: The Novel Mechanism of Action and Patient Safety Protocols for the Drug Lenalidomide
Description The drug Lenalidomide works through a novel mechanism by binding to a protein ligase, triggering the degradation of key transcription factors that cause the death of cancer cells.
Lenalidomide is a powerful immunomodulatory drug whose non-commercial clinical significance stems from its unique molecular mechanism of binding to the CRL4CRBN E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, which tags specific disease-related proteins for proteasomal degradation. This mechanism is critical for treating multiple myeloma by destroying transcription factors like IKZF1 and IKZF3, and for treating myelodysplastic syndrome by degrading CK1α. Due to its known teratogenicity, the drug is governed by stringent risk-evaluation and mitigation strategies (REMS), underscoring the vital non-commercial focus on patient safety and pregnancy prevention protocols.