Vorinostat is a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor used for the treatment of cutaneous manifestations in patients with progressive, persistent, or recurrent cutaneous T- cell lymphoma (CTCL) following prior systemic therapies. Vorinostat (rINN) or suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), is a drug currently under investigation for the treatment of cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL), a type of skin cancer, to be used when the disease persists, gets...
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed
Vorinostat inhibits the enzymatic activity of histone deacetylases HDAC1, HDAC2 and HDAC3 (Class I) and HDAC6 (Class II) at nanomolar concentrations (IC50< 86 nM). These enzymes catalyze the removal of acetyl groups from the lysine residues of histones proteins. In some cancer cells, there is an overexpression of HDACs, or an aberrant recruitment of HDACs to oncogenic transcription factors causing hypoacetylation of core nucleosomal histones. By inhibiting histone deacetylase, vorinostat causes the accumulation of acetylated histones and induces cell cycle arrest and/or apoptosis of some transformed cells. The mechanism of the antineoplastic effect of vorinostat has not been fully characterized.
- Primary indication
- For the treatment of cutaneous manifestations in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma who have progressive, persistent or recurrent disease on or following two systemic therapies.Curator reviewed · 3 structured indications
- Formula / weight
- C14H20N2O3 · 264.3202 g/mol (avg)
- First approval
- Canada, 2009 · United States, 2006
- Also known as
- Octanedioic acid hydroxyamide phenylamide · SAHA · Suberanilohydroxamic acid · Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid
- Code names
- L-001079038 · MK-0683 · MSK-390
- Brand names
Resolves to
WAEXFXRVDQXREF-UHFFFAOYSA-NSMILESONC(=O)CCCCCCC(=O)NC1=CC=CC=C1What you can answer from here — as of September 23, 2026
Which drugs share a target with Vorinostat, and which of those have an active Phase 3 trial?
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