Drug

Etoposide

In clinical development

ClassDNA topoisomerase II inhibitorEmerging researchLate-stage developmentCooling momentum

Also known as Avopef, Etopophos, Toposar, VePesid+6 more

Avopef, Etopophos, Toposar, VePesid, trans-Etoposide, (-)-etoposide, Etoposido, 4'-Demethylepipodophyllotoxin 9-(4,6-O-(R)-ethylidene-beta-D-glucopyranoside), 9-((4,6-O-Ethylidine-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy)-5,8,8a,9-tetrahydro-5-(4-hydroxy-3,4-dimethyloxyphenyl)furo(3',4'':6,7)naptho-(2,3-d)-1,3-dioxol-6(5aH)-one, Etoposidum.

RxNorm4179 ChEMBLCHEMBL44657 ATCL01CB01UNII6PLQ3CP4P3

Research papers

Active clinical trials

Protein targets

Latest activity

beta

Recent clinical, regulatory, research and industry developments relating to this drug.

A Phase 1b/2 Open-label Study Evaluating Different MK-6070 and Ifinatamab Deruxtecan (MK-2400)-Based Regimens in First-line Extensive Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer

Clinical trial2026-07-28Results expected Q4 2030 · ClinicalTrials.gov

A Phase II Trial Evaluating Chemotherapy Followed by Response-Based Reduced Radiation Therapy for Patients With Central Nervous System Germinomas

Clinical trial2026-07-16Results expected Q4 2033 · ClinicalTrials.gov

Pediatric Hepatic Malignancy International Therapeutic Trial (PHITT)

Clinical trial2026-07-16Results expected Q4 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

Phase 3 Open-label, Multicenter, Randomized Study of ASP2215 Versus Salvage Chemotherapy in Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) With FLT3 Mutation

Clinical trial2026-07-16Results posted · ClinicalTrials.gov

Treatment of Newly Diagnosed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Children and Adolescents

Clinical trial2026-07-16Results expected Q4 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

Efficacy and Safety of Adebrelimab Combined With Chemoradiotherapy in the Treatment of Esophageal Small Cell Carcinoma: a Single-arm, Multicenter, Phase II Clinical Study

Clinical trial2026-07-13Primary completion · ClinicalTrials.gov

Phase Ib/II Trial of Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) Combination Therapies in Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer (mCRPC) (KEYNOTE-365)

Clinical trial2026-07-13Results expected Q4 2027 · ClinicalTrials.gov

Randomized Phase II/III Trial of First Line Platinum/Etoposide With or Without Atezolizumab (NSC#783608) in Patients With Poorly Differentiated Extrapulmonary Small Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinomas (NEC)

Clinical trial2026-07-08Results expected Q4 2028 · ClinicalTrials.gov

Clinical insights into small cell lung cancer: Tumor heterogeneity, diagnosis, therapy, and future directions.

Research2023-06-17CA: a cancer journal for clinicians

Updated Overall Survival and PD-L1 Subgroup Analysis of Patients With Extensive-Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer Treated With Atezolizumab, Carboplatin, and Etoposide (IMpower133).

Research2021-01-13Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology

First-Line Atezolizumab plus Chemotherapy in Extensive-Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

Research2018-09-25The New England journal of medicine

As-Needed Vs Immediate Etoposide Chemotherapy in Combination With Antiretroviral Therapy for Mild-to-Moderate AIDS-Associated Kaposi Sarcoma in Resource-Limited Settings: A5264/AMC-067 Randomized Clinical Trial.

Research2018-07-01Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America

Profile

Identifiers & mechanism

Canonical identifiers, marketed brand names and mechanism, resolved across RxNorm, ChEMBL and ATC.

Canonical name

Etoposide

Aliases & brands

AvopefEtopophosToposarVePesidtrans-Etoposide(-)-etoposideEtoposido4'-Demethylepipodophyllotoxin 9-(4,6-O-(R)-ethylidene-beta-D-glucopyranoside)9-((4,6-O-Ethylidine-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy)-5,8,8a,9-tetrahydro-5-(4-hydroxy-3,4-dimethyloxyphenyl)furo(3',4'':6,7)naptho-(2,3-d)-1,3-dioxol-6(5aH)-oneEtoposidum

RxNorm CUI

4179

ChEMBL ID

CHEMBL44657

ATC codes

L01CB01

UNII

6PLQ3CP4P3

Primary mechanism

DNA topoisomerase II inhibitor

Pharmacology & targets

2 targets

Known molecular targets and mechanisms supported by curated pharmacology databases.

DNA topoisomerase 2-alpha

TOP2A · P11388

INHIBITORDNA topoisomerase II inhibitor

DNA topoisomerase 2-beta

TOP2B · Q02880

INHIBITORDNA topoisomerase II inhibitor

Clinical trials

199 trials

The current development programme across all trial phases — status mix, phase distribution and the late-stage studies shaping the evidence base.

Development programme

CLINICALTRIALS.GOV · LIVE REGISTRY

199

registered trials across all phases

LATEST COMPLETION 2026

Active studies

Recruiting

Late-stage (III+)

103

Completed

Discontinued

PHASE DISTRIBUTIONn = 199

Early Phase 14Phase 126Phase 1 / 224Phase 287Phase 2 / 35Phase 346Phase 43Phase N / A4

Late-stage studies

Phase III+ trials still open or recently active — where late-stage evidence is being generated.

A Real-world Study of Benmelstobart, Anlotinib and Chemotherapy Regimen as First-line Treatment for Extensive-stage Small-cell Lung Cancer

Not yet recruitingPH IVPeking Union Medical College Hospitaln=502027

EDOCH Alternating With DHAP Regimen Combined Rituximab or Not to Treat New Diagnosed Younger (Age≤65 Years) Mantle Cell Lymphoma in China: A Multicentre Phase III Trial

CompletedPH IVInstitute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinan=552020

Treatment of Elderly Patients (>60 Years) With Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia or Advanced MDS (RAEB-T): An Open Randomized Study to Test the Efficacy of G-CSF-Priming and a Feasibility Trial of Dose-Reduced Allogeneic Transplantation and of Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation

Unknown statusPH IVJohann Wolfgang Goethe University Hospitaln=2502005

Treatment of Newly Diagnosed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Children and Adolescents

Active, not recruitingPH IIIDana-Farber Cancer Instituten=5602034

Randomized Open-label Non-inferiority Phase 3 Clinical Trial for Patients With a Stage IV Childhood Renal Tumor, Comparing Upfront Vincristine, Actinomycin-D and Doxorubicin (Standard Arm) With Upfront Vincristine, Carboplatin and Etoposide (Experimental Arm)

RecruitingPH IIIAssistance Publique Hopitaux De Marseillen=1102033

Recent completions

Trials that read out recently, adding to the completed evidence base.

A Phase III Randomized Trial for Patients With De Novo AML Using Bortezomib and Sorafenib (NSC# 681239, NSC# 724772) for Patients With High Allelic Ratio FLT3/ITD

CompletedPH IIIKey trialNational Cancer Institute (NCI)n=1,6452026

Phase III Randomized Trial of Post-Radiation Chemotherapy in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Ependymoma Ages 1 to 21 Years

CompletedPH IIIChildren's Oncology Groupn=4792026

Phase I-II Study of Escalating Doses of Large Field Image-Guided Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) Using Helical Tomotherapy in Combination With Etoposide (VP16) and Cytoxan as a Preparative Regimen for Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell (HSC) Transplantation for Patients With Poor Risk Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) or Poor Risk Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)

CompletedPH I/IICity of Hope Medical Centern=512026

A Phase III Randomized Trial for the Treatment of Newly Diagnosed Supratentorial PNET and High Risk Medulloblastoma in Children < 36 Months Old With Intensive Induction Chemotherapy With Methotrexate Followed by Consolidation With Stem Cell Rescue vs. the Same Therapy Without Methotrexate

CompletedPH IIIChildren's Oncology Groupn=912025

A Trial of Atovaquone (Mepron®) Combined With Conventional Chemotherapy for de Novo Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults (ATACC AML)

CompletedPH IBaylor College of Medicinen=262025

A Phase 2 Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Pembrolizumab Plus Investigational Agents in Combination With Etoposide and Cisplatin or Carboplatin for the First-Line Treatment of Participants With Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer (KEYNOTE-B99)

CompletedPH IIMerck Sharp & Dohme LLCn=1262025

Research activity

5 papers

Key research shaping understanding of this drug, combining the latest publications with the most influential evidence.

Publications over time

20022023

Most influential

First-Line Atezolizumab plus Chemotherapy in Extensive-Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

The New England journal of medicine · 2018 · 2,697 cites

Irinotecan plus cisplatin compared with etoposide plus cisplatin for extensive small-cell lung cancer.

The New England journal of medicine · 2002 · 852 cites

Updated Overall Survival and PD-L1 Subgroup Analysis of Patients With Extensive-Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer Treated With Atezolizumab, Carboplatin, and Etoposide (IMpower133).

Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology · 2021 · 649 cites

Clinical insights into small cell lung cancer: Tumor heterogeneity, diagnosis, therapy, and future directions.

CA: a cancer journal for clinicians · 2023 · 299 cites

Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America · 2018 · 27 cites

Related diseases

2 conditions

Regulator-approved indications and conditions co-mentioned with this drug across the research literature. Number shows shared papers.

Active research areas

Lung Neoplasms4 Small Cell Lung Carcinoma3

Related drugs

5 matches

Drugs sharing diseases, protein targets and literature with this one. Ranked by graph evidence (shared targets + diseases weighted above co-mentions).

Atezolizumab