FNTA farnesyltransferase, CAAX box, subunit alpha
ENSG00000168522 · protein coding · Open Targets profile
Essential subunit of both the farnesyltransferase and the geranylgeranyltransferase complex. Contributes to the transfer of a farnesyl or geranylgeranyl moiety from farnesyl or geranylgeranyl diphosphate to a cysteine at the fourth position from the C-terminus of several proteins having the C-terminal sequence Cys-aliphatic- aliphatic-X. May positively regulate neuromuscular junction development downstream of MUSK via its function in RAC1 prenylation and activation. {ECO:0000269|PubMed:12036349, ECO:0000269|PubMed:12825937, ECO:0000269|PubMed:16893176, ECO:0000269|PubMed:19246009, ECO:0000269|PubMed:8419339, ECO:0000269|PubMed:8494894}.
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 Withdrawn means the drug was pulled from the market or from development.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, Med-Quality Pocket, Druggable Family
- Antibody
- GO CC med conf
- PROTAC
- Database Ubiquitination, Half-life Data, Small Molecule Binder
gnomAD loss of function constraint: o/e 0.4889200031757355 (upper bound 0.674239993095398). 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 20 registry trials, updated in the last three years, of the most advanced drugs against FNTA (lonafarnib, tipifarnib), ranked by Phase 2+ trials. Live from ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Cihan YurdaydinAnkara University · 2 of 2 trials Phase 2+
- Christine A PratilasChildren's Oncology Group · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Christopher KohNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Donald W ParsonsChildren's Oncology Group · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Elizabeth MOYALInstitut Claudius Regaud · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Heiner WedemeyerHannover Medical School · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Luis Paz AresHospital 12 de Octubre · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Monica KleinmanBoston Children's Hospital · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Ohad EtzionSoroka University Medical Center · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Selina LugerECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- TBD TBD– · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Valerie BrownBeat Childhood Cancer · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Vinay PuduvalliM.D. Anderson Cancer Center · 0 of 1 trials Phase 2+
Registry trials of lonafarnib, tipifarnib 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; 12 of 19 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. 1 trials list no sites and are left out. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, fetched live.
22 trials of drugs against FNTA were stopped early; 10 give no reason
Terminated, withdrawn and suspended interventional trials of lonafarnib, tipifarnib, 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 22 most recent of 22.
- terminated · 2025-03-05 · Spanish Lung Cancer Group · Tipifarnib“The recruitment was closed prematurely to due to slow recruitment.”
- terminated · 2024-07-31 · Kura Oncology, Inc. · Tipifarnib“Lack of efficacy”
- withdrawn · 2024-05-23 · National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Study closure based on decision of the PI”
- terminated · 2023-09-21 · Kura Oncology, Inc. · Tipifarnib“Study terminated due to recruitment challenges”
- withdrawn · 2023-03-06 · Kura Oncology, Inc. · Tipifarnib“This study was withdrawn due to a strategic business decision; no patients were enrolled.”
- withdrawn · 2021-02-16 · Eiger BioPharmaceuticals · Lonafarnib“This study was initially planned to enroll patients in Mongolia. However, due to challenges in setting it up in Mongolia, this study was later determined not to be initiated.”
- withdrawn · 2020-07-31 · Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center · lonafarnibNo reason given
- terminated · 2018-11-15 · M.D. Anderson Cancer Center · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Slow accrual.”
- withdrawn · 2018-11-14 · M.D. Anderson Cancer Center · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“No enrollment.”
- terminated · 2018-08-23 · Lymphoma Study Association · ZARNESTRA (Tipifarnib)“Inefficiency of treatment”
- terminated · 2017-04-05 · National Cancer Institute (NCI) · tipifarnibNo reason given
- terminated · 2016-02-18 · George Sledge · Lonafarnib“funding terminated”
- terminated · 2015-08-27 · Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC · Lonafarnib (SARASAR)No reason given
- terminated · 2015-05-01 · Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC · LonafarnibNo reason given
- terminated · 2015-04-21 · Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC · matched by the registry's drug synonymsNo reason given
- terminated · 2015-02-05 · Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC · Docetaxel plus lonafarnibNo reason given
- terminated · 2013-11-25 · H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Initial Principal Investigator left Moffitt”
- terminated · 2013-10-08 · National Cancer Institute (NCI) · tipifarnibNo reason given
- terminated · 2013-05-03 · Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center · tipifarnib“Withdrawn due to "toxicity" problems”
- terminated · 2012-12-18 · Emory University · LonafarnibNo reason given
- withdrawn · 2012-06-29 · The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio · tipifarnibNo reason given
- terminated · 2006-11-14 · Institut Claudius Regaud · matched by the registry's drug synonymsNo reason given
Paediatric incentives and obligations for FNTA's drugs
For lonafarnib, tipifarnib: 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 · FNTA 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-002516-PIP02-21 (Lonafarnib, Hepatitis D virus infection): P: decision agreeing on a investigation plan, with or without partial waiver(s) and or deferral(s), 8 Jul 2022; EMEA-002871-PIP01-20 (tipifarnib, Treatment of head and neck epithelial malignant neoplasms): W: decision granting a waiver in all age groups for all conditions or indications, 22 Dec 2020; EMEA-002516-PIP01-18 (Lonafarnib, Treatment of Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome;Treatment of progeroid laminopathies): P: decision agreeing on a investigation plan, with or without partial waiver(s) and or deferral(s), 16 Jul 2019; compliance positive 27 Mar 2020Rule: 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/3/20/2333 withdrawn 19 Oct 2020: Treatment of peripheral T-cell lymphoma; EU/3/05/269 withdrawn 10 Mar 2005: Treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia; EU/3/13/1225 positive 16 Jan 2014: Treatment of hepatitis delta virus infection; EU/3/18/2118 positive 14 Dec 2018: Treatment of Hutchinson-Gilford progeriaRule: 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 · Zokinvy: authorised since 18 Jul 2022, orphan medicine, exceptional circumstancesRule: 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 EPAR Zokinvy, 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 lonafarnib, tipifarnibRule: 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 · 25 interventional studies of lonafarnib, tipifarnib include patients under 18; 4 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 2 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.