Bortezomib (millennium pharmaceuticals).

Bortezomib is a ubiquitin proteasome inhibitor under development by Millennium Pharmaceuticals (formerly LeukoSite Inc) for the potential treatment of various solid tumors [312219], [392555]. In the first quarter of 2001, Millennium initiated two phase II trials evaluating bortezomib for multiple myeloma (MM). A phase II trial in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) was initiated in June 2001 [400636], [412848]. By November 2001, the agent was in a number of phase I trials and combination studies for various solid tumors, including prostate, pancreatic and colorectal carcinoma [412700], [429923], [435062], [452675]. In June 2002, bortezomib was awarded Fast Track status by the FDA [453557], and in the same month pivotal phase III trials evaluating bortezomib in MM were initiated in the US, Canada and Europe [454446].