Melphalan (Alkeran) is a chemotherapy drug, specifically falls under the class of nitrogen mustard alkylating agents. It acts in order to interfere with the formation of DNA and RNA.
In the year of 1964, in the United States, the Melphalan 50 mg was approved for medical use. The agent initially originated as a possible drug for use in the melanoma, but it was not found to be effective.
In the year of 2016, the medication melphalan was approved in the United States in order to be used as a high-dose conditioning treatment prior to hematopoietic progenitor (stem) cell transplantation in patients with multiple myeloma (MM).
And as a palliative treatment of patients with MM for whom oral therapy is inappropriate.
It is currently being prescribed in order to treat ocular retinoblastoma, a pediatric solid tumor. This is accomplished through the transarterial catheter based slow pulsed infusion into the ophthalmic artery.
In the month of September 2020, the CHMP (Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use) of the EMA (European Medicines Agency) adopted a +Ve perspective, recommending the granting of a marketing authorization for melphalan.
In the month of February, 2021, the Food and Drug Administration granted approval to the melphalan flufenamide (Pepaxto) along with dexamethasone for the treatment of adult patients with RRMM who have taken at least 4 prior lines of therapy and whose cancer is refractory to at least 1 proteasome inhibitor.
The melphalan price in India is around 2,400 INR for a vial of one powder for injection, depending on the wholesaler/pharmacy you visit. Any WHO-GDP & ISO certified pharmaceutical wholesaler company would be best to buy Melphalan.