L-asparaginase Inhibitors
2 drugsAbout L-asparaginase
L-asparaginase is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of L-asparagine to aspartic acid and ammonia. It is a clinically validated drug target in oncology, particularly for cancers auxotrophic for L-asparagine. By depleting L-asparagine, it selectively starves and kills cancer cells.
L-asparaginase is targeted because some cancer cells cannot synthesize L-asparagine and rely on external sources. There is currently no genetic evidence directly linking L-asparaginase to specific diseases, but its clinical efficacy supports its therapeutic rationale.
Two FDA-approved drugs, ONCASPAR and ASPARLAS, target L-asparaginase for oncology indications. Both drugs are biologics (other) and marketed by SERVIER PHARMA LLC and SIGMA TAU.
Strategic Insights
ℹ️ How we calculate- White space opportunity in T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia with only 2 trials.
- phase3 represents biological uncertainty with 0% completion.
Top Drugs
The competitive landscape is concentrated, with SERVIER PHARMA LLC and SIGMA TAU holding all approved drugs.
High market concentration suggests significant barriers to entry for new competitors.
Drug Modality Landscape
Modalities
Routes of Administration
L-asparaginase requires biologic approaches (enzyme), likely due to its structure or location.
Consider exploring alternative modalities like small molecules to differentiate from existing therapies.
📈 Modality Evolution
Enzymes pioneered L-asparaginase targeting (1994), with other biologics entering more recently (2018).
Clinical Trials 105 trials
Completion by Phase
| Phase | Total | Completed | Failed | Active | Completion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | 32 | 14 | 4 | 14 | 78% |
| Phase 2 | 44 | 16 | 9 | 19 | 64% |
| Phase 3 | 24 | 7 | 2 | 15 | 78% |
| Phase 4 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 75% |
Top Sponsors
By Modality
Top Conditions
Phase 3 Readout Calendar Pro
1 Phase 3 trial testing approved L-asparaginase drugs across all sponsors.
Coverage: trials whose intervention is an approved drug targeting L-asparaginase. Pre-approval candidates with development codes (e.g. AZD0901, MK-7240) are not yet linked. Anchored on CT.gov primary completion date.
Drug Approval Timeline (1994 - 2018)
The first drug was approved in 1994 (ONCASPAR), and the most recent in 2018 (ASPARLAS), spanning 25 years.
The long approval span indicates a mature market with limited recent innovation.
Pro Intelligence Preview
Deep insights for drug target analysis
Competitive Landscape
- • 2 companies competing
- • Market share by company
Full Drug Portfolio
- • All 2 approved drugs
- • Approval dates & indications
Genetic Validation
- • Full genetic evidence table
- • Effect sizes & directions
Approval Timeline
- • Full 2-drug timeline
- • First-of-modality markers
Clinical Trials Analysis
- • Competition: High (15 sponsors)
- • White space: 10 underexplored indications
- • Success rates by condition
Full summary • All drugs • Genetic evidence • Trials • Timeline
How We Calculate These Metrics
Target Attractiveness Score
A 0-100 score based on trial activity, sponsor diversity, and completion rates. Calculated from 60 clinical trials targeting L-asparaginase.
Completion rate: Percentage of trials that reached their planned endpoint. Trials terminated early, withdrawn, or suspended are not counted—these often indicate safety issues, lack of efficacy, or strategic pivots.
- Highly Attractive (80+): High trial activity, many sponsors, strong completion rates
- Attractive (60-79): Good trial activity and validation
- Moderate (40-59): Moderate interest from sponsors
- Low (under 40): Limited trial activity or validation concerns
Strategic Insights
Auto-generated insights based on trial analytics including competition intensity, white space opportunities, modality shifts, and failure patterns. We analyze trial sponsors, phases, indications, and outcomes.
Risk Signals
- High Competition: Many sponsors competing for this target (may reduce market opportunity)
- High Failure Risk: Low trial completion rates suggest development challenges
- Low Validation: Limited trial activity or poor outcomes indicate uncertain viability
- White Space Available: Underexplored indications present opportunities