ODC1 ornithine decarboxylase 1
ENSG00000115758 · protein coding · Open Targets profile
Catalyzes the first and rate-limiting step of polyamine biosynthesis that converts ornithine into putrescine, which is the precursor for the polyamines, spermidine and spermine. Polyamines are essential for cell proliferation and are implicated in cellular processes, ranging from DNA replication to apoptosis. .
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 Withdrawn means the drug was pulled from the market or from development.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
- PROTAC
- Database Ubiquitination, Small Molecule Binder
gnomAD loss of function constraint: o/e 0.43421998620033264 (upper bound 0.6438900232315063). 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 27 registry trials, updated in the last three years, of the most advanced drugs against ODC1 (eflornithine), ranked by Phase 2+ trials. Live from ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Terence C. BurnsMayo Clinic in Rochester · 1 of 2 trials Phase 2+
- Alice LeeMontefiore Medical Center · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Craug ElmetsUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Deyaa AdibAminex Therapeutics, Inc. · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Doug MorganVanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer enter · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Emily K SimsIndiana University · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Giselle Saulnier ShollerPenn State Health Children's Hospital · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Giselle Saulnier-ShollerBeat Childhood Cancer · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Giselle SaulnierShollerPenn State Health Children's Hospital · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Jason A. ZellUniversity of California, Irvine · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Jhanelle E. GrayMoffitt Cancer Center · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Kathleen NevilleChildren's Mercy Hospital Kansas City · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Keith WilsonVanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer enter · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Laura SenaJohns Hopkins University · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Margaret E MacyChildren's Oncology Group · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
Registry trials of eflornithine 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; 19 of 27 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. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, fetched live.
7 trials of drugs against ODC1 were stopped early; 2 give no reason
Terminated, withdrawn and suspended interventional trials of eflornithine, 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 7 most recent of 7.
- suspended · 2026-03-06 · H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Drugs unavailable”
- terminated · 2024-12-24 · Aminex Therapeutics, Inc. · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Required re-formulation of DFMO from IV to capsule to maintain safety”
- terminated · 2024-01-31 · Walter Reed National Military Medical Center · Eflornithine Topical, Placebo Eflornithine Topical“Vaniqa no longer manufactured”
- withdrawn · 2015-04-24 · Cancer Prevention Pharmaceuticals, Inc. · Eflornithine plus Sulindac, Eflornithine plus PlaceboNo reason given
- withdrawn · 2014-07-30 · Cancer Prevention Pharmaceuticals, Inc. · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Funding and staffing”
- terminated · 2007-06-21 · Epicentre · Eflornithine plus Nifurtimox combination therapy“Because of unexpectedly reduced disease prevalence in the study area, a pragmatic decision was taken to terminate recruitment in March 2003.”
- terminated · 2006-05-26 · Epicentre · melarsoprol 1.8 mg/kg/d, 10d + eflornithine 400 mg/kg/d, 7d, nifurtimox 15/20 mg/kg/d 10d + eflornithine 400 mg/kg/d 7dNo reason given
Paediatric incentives and obligations for ODC1's drugs
For eflornithine: 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: yes · ODC1 is on the list. Membership alone neither requires nor waives a pediatric study.Rule: 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-001518-PIP03-19 (eflornithine hydrochloride;sulindac, Treatment of Familial Adenomatous Polyposis): RP: decision refers to a refusal on a proposed Paediatric Investigation Plan, 6 Dec 2019Rule: An EMA PIP decision (agreement, modification or waiver) lists the drug as its active substance, exact name. Source: EMA EMEA-001518-PIP03-19, 2026-11-11
- EU orphan designation: yes · EU/3/11/902 withdrawn 27 Sept 2011: Treatment of neuroblastoma; EU/3/21/2429 positive 20 May 2021: Treatment of neuroblastoma; EU/3/10/779 positive 20 Sept 2010: Treatment of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP); EU/3/12/1086 positive 24 Jan 2013: Treatment of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP); +2 moreRule: 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 · Ifinwil: application withdrawn, orphan medicine; Vaniqa: authorised since 19 Mar 2001; Flynpovi: application withdrawn, orphan medicineRule: 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: yes · Eflornithine [Iwilfin], 13 Dec 2023: To reduce the risk of relapse in adult and pediatric patients with high-risk neuroblastoma (HRNB) who have demonstrated at least a partial response to prior multiagent, multimodality therapy including anti-GD2 immunotherapyRule: FDA's Pediatric Oncology Drug Approvals table names the drug. Source: FDA Pediatric Oncology Drug Approvals (content current as of 2026-03-03), 2026-11-11
- Registered studies open to children: yes · 21 interventional studies of eflornithine include patients under 18; 9 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, 2026-11-11
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.
| Drug | Type | Highest stage | Indications | Source records |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EFLORNITHINE | Small molecule | phase 4 | Hirsutism, human African trypanosomiasis, neoplasm, trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, malignant colon neoplasm, colon carcinoma, classic familial adenomatous polyposis, +19 more | Open Targets · ChEMBL |
| EFLORNITHINE HYDROCHLORIDE | Small molecule | phase 4 | Pseudofolliculitis barbae, freckles, cutaneous melanoma, breast cancer | Open Targets · ChEMBL |