Lenalidomide, a thalidomide analogue, is an immunomodulatory agent with antiangiogenic and antineoplastic properties. Lenalidomide is an off-white to pale-yellow solid powder. Lenalidomide is more soluble in organic solvents and low pH solutions. Lenalidomide is available has hard capsules in the strengths of 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg and 25 mg capsules for oral administration. Each capsule contains lenalidomide as the active ingredient.

Lenalidomide was developed to reduce the dose limiting side effects of thalidomide such as sedation, constipation, thromboembolism and neuropathy. The mechanism of action of this class of agents remains to be fully characterized, but it inhibits TNFáproduction, stimulates T andNK cells, reduces serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), promotes G1 cellcycle arrest and apoptosis of malignant cells.

Lenalidomide is indicated for the treatment of patients with Multiple myeloma (MM), in combination with dexamethasone, in patients who have received at least one prior therapy. It is also indicated for use in transfusion-dependent anemia due to low-or intermediate-1-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) associated with a deletion 5q abnormality with or without additional cytogenetic abnormalities and for the treatment of Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) whose disease has relapsed or progressed after two prior therapies, one of which included bortezomib. Lenalidomide is also indicated in Follicular Lymphoma (FL) and Marginal Zone Lymphoma (MZL).

Lenalidomide as available has hard capsules in the strengths of 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg and 25 mg capsules for oral administration. Each capsule contains lenalidomide as the active ingredient.