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 L-asparaginase 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.
L-asparaginase 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).
L-asparaginase Clinical Trials 76 trials
Completion by Phase
| Phase | Total | Completed | Failed | Active | Completion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | 21 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 44% |
| Phase 2 | 36 | 8 | 8 | 20 | 50% |
| Phase 3 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 13 | 80% |
| Phase 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | - |
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.
L-asparaginase 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