Pharmacology of a mimetic of glutathione disulfide, NOV-002

NOV-002 is a novel therapeutic agent in development for oncology indications used in combination with chemotherapy. Clinical trials in Russia and the USA have demonstrated clinical activity and the present focus is on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. The active component of the drug is oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and this imparts multiple effects upon redox pathways both at the cell surface and inside the cell. The drug induces S-glutathionylation of some proteins and impacts kinase/phosphatase regulated signaling pathways. Induction of myeloproliferation is believed to contribute to the clinical advantages provided by NOV-002 that include improved tolerance of chemotherapy and increased survival.