XDH xanthine dehydrogenase
ENSG00000158125 · protein coding · Open Targets profile
Key enzyme in purine degradation. Catalyzes the oxidation of hypoxanthine to xanthine. Catalyzes the oxidation of xanthine to uric acid. Contributes to the generation of reactive oxygen species. Has also low oxidase activity towards aldehydes (in vitro). .
Each band is a group of drugs. It runs from the kind of drug on the left to the furthest stage that drug has reached in any disease on the right. Thicker bands mean more drugs.
Approved bands are highlighted. Withdrawn means the drug was pulled from the market or from development. A combined phase counts as the later one (Phase 1/2 is shown as Phase 2). Hover a band for the drug names. Source: Open Targets Platform, fetched live.
Each row is a cancer, strongest overall evidence first. The two dots show how strong the inherited (germline) and tumour-mutation (somatic) evidence is; the line between them is the gap.
Scores run from 0 (no evidence) to 1 (strongest). A missing dot at 0 means Open Targets holds no evidence of that kind. Source: Open Targets Platform, fetched live.
Tractability
- Small molecule
- Approved Drug, Structure with Ligand, High-Quality Ligand, High-Quality Pocket, Druggable Family
- Antibody
- UniProt loc med conf, GO CC med conf
- PROTAC
- Small Molecule Binder
gnomAD loss of function constraint: o/e 0.884090006351471 (upper bound 1.0183000564575195). Low values mean loss of function is poorly tolerated, a safety flag for inhibition.
Who runs trials of these drugs
Principal investigators and study chairs on 66 registry trials, updated in the last three years, of the most advanced drugs against XDH (topiroxostat, febuxostat, allopurinol, oxypurinol), ranked by Phase 2+ trials. Live from ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Alexandra SteinbergGilead Sciences · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Andrzej TykarskiPoznan University of Medical Sciences · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Benjamin CanalesUniversity of Florida · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Hadier m. El-sheikhDepartment of Clinical pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tanta university · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Hyon K ChoiMassachusetts General Hospital · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Hyungjin ChoLG Chem · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Irène CEBALLOS-PICOTAssistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- James R O'DellOmaha VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Johannes (Hans) MPJ BreurUniversity Medical Center Utrecht (UMC Utrecht) · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Jorge CastilloDana-Farber Cancer Institute · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Kathryn StazzoneInventisBio Co., Ltd · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- khadija glalassistant lecturer · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Koichi NodeSaga University · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Laurence ROBEL-GALLIAssistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Louis J Dell'ItaliaBirmingham VA Medical Center, Birmingham, AL · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
Registry trials of topiroxostat, febuxostat, allopurinol, oxypurinol updated in the last three years, counted by the country group of their listed sites. A trial with sites in several groups counts in each; 51 of 59 have all sites in one country.
Site counts are not patients per country, and trials registered only outside ClinicalTrials.gov are not covered. Where sites are is a fact about the record, not a judgement of its quality. Europe is the EU and EEA, the UK and Switzerland. 7 trials list no sites and are left out. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, fetched live.
29 trials of drugs against XDH were stopped early; 4 give no reason
Terminated, withdrawn and suspended interventional trials of topiroxostat, febuxostat, allopurinol, oxypurinol, newest update first, live from ClinicalTrials.gov. Each reason is quoted exactly as the registry gives it; we do not sort reasons into safety, efficacy or business. Dates are the last registry update. Showing the 25 most recent of 29.
- terminated · 2025-07-16 · Atom Therapeutics Co., Ltd · Allopurinol“For business consideration, a new long-term safety study will be conducted in the next new pivotal studies.”
- terminated · 2025-05-29 · Gilead Sciences · Allopurinol“Study terminated early due to the magrolimab program discontinuation.”
- terminated · 2024-12-05 · Washington University School of Medicine · Allopurinol“Futility”
- terminated · 2023-11-14 · National Taiwan University Hospital · Stepwise dose titration of febuxostat and low-dose colchicine, Fixed dose febuxostat and low-dose colchicine“Slow recruitment”
- withdrawn · 2023-08-14 · University of Nebraska · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Screenings yielded inadequate eligible subjects to enroll.”
- terminated · 2021-11-04 · Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“This action was a business decision \& not related to any efficacy, safety or clinical concerns with lesinurad.”
- terminated · 2021-06-03 · Menarini Group · Febuxostat“The study was stopped as per EMA waiver granted on 20July2018.”
- terminated · 2021-05-27 · Virginia Commonwealth University · Allopurinol“inability to achieve recruitment goals at a single center and given the current pandemic conditions”
- terminated · 2021-04-13 · Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota · AllopurinolNo reason given
- terminated · 2020-09-29 · Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Considering new technology for product.”
- terminated · 2020-01-27 · M.D. Anderson Cancer Center · Allopurinol“Terminated per PI's request at the time of continuing review”
- terminated · 2019-10-15 · Roberto S Kalil · allopurinol or placebo“Study was not funded”
- terminated · 2019-10-02 · Cedars-Sinai Medical Center · Allopurinol“The outpatient area of the department of psychiatry at CSMC closed.”
- withdrawn · 2019-04-17 · University of Missouri-Columbia · Allopurinol“Preliminary data collected and diets developed. Funding has ended and data used to support a larger application to test the hypothesis.”
- terminated · 2018-01-12 · University of Mississippi Medical Center · febuxostat“unable to enroll participants”
- terminated · 2018-01-09 · Roswell Park Cancer Institute · allopurinol“low accrual”
- terminated · 2017-12-28 · Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota · Allopurinol“Slow accrual”
- terminated · 2017-12-28 · Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota · Allopurinol“Withdrawn due to toxicity”
- terminated · 2017-09-27 · OHSU Knight Cancer Institute · matched by the registry's drug synonymsNo reason given
- withdrawn · 2017-09-13 · National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) · Allopurinol“insufficient number of eligible subjects”
- terminated · 2017-08-03 · Yokohama City University Medical Center · Febuxostat“Entry were insufficient as expected.”
- terminated · 2017-07-18 · Regeneron Pharmaceuticals · AllopurinolNo reason given
- withdrawn · 2017-05-11 · Université de Sherbrooke · allopurinol“because of a lack of funding”
- withdrawn · 2015-10-08 · University of Wisconsin, Madison · AllopurinolNo reason given
- terminated · 2015-05-27 · Stephen McSwiggan · Allopurinol“slow recruitment: stopped early”
Paediatric incentives and obligations for XDH's drugs
For topiroxostat, febuxostat, allopurinol, oxypurinol: what EMA and FDA publish about paediatric plans, orphan status and pediatric approvals, and how many registered studies take children. Each line is a yes, no or not published fact from the record linked under it; none of it is a forecast.
- FDA pediatric target list: no · XDH is not on the listRule: Target is on FDA's Pediatric Molecular Target List (relevant targets). Source: FDA Pediatric Molecular Target List (Listed as February 2026 on the FDA Pediatric Oncology page; the file served is 9.7.22_the_relevant_molecular_target_list.xlsx, whose Summary of Changes sheet is headed 'SEPTEMBER 2022 UPDATE' (footnote date 2022-09-01)), 2026-11-11
- EU paediatric investigation plan: yes · EMEA-002754-PIP01-19 (allopurinol;verinurad, Treatment of chronic kidney disease): P: decision agreeing on a investigation plan, with or without partial waiver(s) and or deferral(s), 29 Jan 2021; EMEA-001417-PIP01-12-M04 (febuxostat, Prevention of hyperuricaemia): W: decision granting a waiver in all age groups for all conditions or indications, 20 Jul 2018; EMEA-001952-PIP01-16 (lesinurad;allopurinol, Treatment of hyperuricaemia): W: decision granting a waiver in all age groups for all conditions or indications, 9 Sept 2016Rule: An EMA PIP decision (agreement, modification or waiver) lists the drug as its active substance, exact name. Source: EMA data download (dated snapshot), 2026-11-11
- EU orphan designation: yes · EU/3/25/3041 positive 25 Mar 2025: Treatment of Marfan syndrome; EU/3/12/1076 positive 6 Dec 2012: Treatment of perinatal asphyxia; EU/3/15/1493 positive 21 May 2015: Treatment of perinatal asphyxiaRule: An EU orphan designation lists the drug as its active substance (exact name) or belongs to a medicine that does; withdrawn and expired designations are listed with their status. Source: EMA data download (dated snapshot), 2026-11-11
- Authorised in the EU: yes · Febuxostat Viatris (previously Febuxostat Mylan): authorised since 15 Jun 2017; Adenuric: authorised since 21 Apr 2008; Febuxostat Krka: authorised since 28 Mar 2019; Duzallo: withdrawn since 23 Aug 2018Rule: An EMA medicine record lists the drug as its active substance or INN, exact name; national-only authorisations are not in this file. Source: EMA data download (dated snapshot), 2026-11-11
- FDA orphan designation: not published · FDA's orphan designation database turns away automated requests, so this app does not read it; search it by hand at the linkRule: Would be: an FDA orphan designation names the drug. Source: FDA orphan designations search
- FDA pediatric oncology approval: no · FDA's table lists no pediatric approval of topiroxostat, febuxostat, allopurinol, oxypurinolRule: FDA's Pediatric Oncology Drug Approvals table names the drug. Source: FDA Pediatric Oncology Drug Approvals (content current as of 2026-03-03), 2026-11-12
- Registered studies open to children: yes · 32 interventional studies of topiroxostat, febuxostat, allopurinol, oxypurinol include patients under 18; 3 are recruiting, not yet recruiting or activeRule: The registry's age group includes Child (birth to 17 years), which also counts studies that set no minimum age. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov search, 2026-11-12
Rare pediatric disease voucher. FDA, content current as of 29 Apr 2026: “As of February 3, 2026, enactment of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, the rare pediatric disease PRV program will sunset after September 30, 2029. FDA may not award any PRVs under this program after September 30, 2029.” Voucher sale prices are not shown here; they appear only as company-reported news. FDA: Rare Pediatric Disease Designation and Priority Review Voucher Programs
All 6 drugs and clinical candidates as a table
Each drug, stage and indication links to its Open Targets record, where the trials and approvals behind it are listed. Salt forms (for example a mesylate) are listed as Open Targets records them, as separate entries.
| Drug | Type | Highest stage | Indications | Source records |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOPIROXOSTAT | Small molecule | approval | hyperuricemia, gout, diabetic kidney disease | Open Targets · ChEMBL |
| FEBUXOSTAT | Small molecule | phase 4 | gout, hyperuricemia, endothelial dysfunction, Calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis, kidney disorder, hypertensive disorder, angina pectoris, albuminuria, +12 more | Open Targets · ChEMBL |
| ALLOPURINOL SODIUM | Small molecule | phase 3 | fetal hypoxia | Open Targets · ChEMBL |
| OXYPURINOL | Small molecule | phase 2 3 | heart failure | Open Targets · ChEMBL |
| BENDAZAC | Small molecule | withdrawal | Myalgia, Arthralgia, eye inflammation | Open Targets · ChEMBL |
| ALLOPURINOL | Small molecule | withdrawal | gout, hyperuricemia, lymphoma, leukemia, cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, diabetic autonomic neuropathy, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, +47 more | Open Targets · ChEMBL |