Lenalidomide, sold under the brand name Revlimid among others, is a medication used to treat multiple myeloma, smoldering myeloma, and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).[ For multiple myeloma, it is a first-line treatment, and is given with dexamethasone.][ It is taken by mouth.][
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Common side effects include diarrhea, itchiness, joint pain, fever, headache, and trouble sleeping.[ Severe side effects include low blood platelets, low white blood cells, and blood clots.][ The dose may need to be adjusted in people with kidney problems.][ Lenalidomide is closely related to thalidomide, which is known to cause severe birth defects, so its use during pregnancy is very likely to harm the fetus.]
Lenalidomide belongs to a class of drugs known as immunomodulatory imide drugs (IMiDs) or Cereblon E3 ligase modulators, which includes thalidomide and its analogs.
Lenalidomide was approved for medical use in the United States in 2005.[ It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.]
Medical uses
Multiple myeloma
Lenalidomide is used to treat multiple myeloma.
Lenalidomide is effective at inducing a complete or "very good partial" response and improves progression-free survival. Adverse events more common in people receiving lenalidomide for myeloma include neutropenia, deep vein thrombosis, , and an increased risk of other hematological malignancies.
In 2006, lenalidomide received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for use in combination with dexamethasone in people with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy.
In 2009, The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence issued a final appraisal determination approving lenalidomide in combination with dexamethasone as an option to treat people with multiple myeloma who have received two or more prior therapies in England and Wales.
The use of lenalidomide combined with other drugs was evaluated. It was seen that the drug combinations of lenalidomide plus dexamethasone and continuous bortezomib plus lenalidomide plus dexamethasone probably increased overall survival.
Myelodysplastic syndromes
Lenalidomide was approved by the FDA in December 2005, for people with low- or intermediate-1-risk myelodysplastic syndromes who have chromosome 5q deletion syndrome (5q- syndrome) with or without additional cytogenetic abnormalities.
Follicular Lymphoma
The FDA approves Lenalidomide in combination with Rituximab in patients whose disease is CD20 positive and has relapsed or progressed after at least one prior therapy. This treatment is commonly known as R² ("R squared").
Mantle cell lymphoma
The FDA approves Lenalidomide as a specialty drug requiring a specialty pharmacy distribution for mantle cell lymphoma in people whose disease has relapsed or progressed after at least two prior therapies, one of which must have included the medicine bortezomib.[
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AL amyloidosis
Although not specifically approved by the FDA for use in treating AL amyloidosis, lenalidomide is sometimes used in the treatment of that condition, often in combination with dexamethasone.
Adverse effects
In addition to teratogenicity, lenalidomide carries black box warnings for hematotoxicity (including neutropenia and thrombocytopenia) and thromboembolism.
Lenalidomide may be associated with adverse effects as second primary malignancy, severe cutaneous reactions, hypersensitivity reactions, tumor lysis syndrome, tumor flare reaction, hypothyroidism, and hyperthyroidism.[
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Teratogenicity
Lenalidomide is related to thalidomide, which is known to be . Tests in monkeys suggest that lenalidomide is likewise teratogenic.
Venous thromboembolism
Lenalidomide, like its parent compound thalidomide, may cause venous thromboembolism, a potentially serious complication with their use. High rates of venous thromboembolism have been found in patients with multiple myeloma who received thalidomide or lenalidomide in conjunction with dexamethasone, melphalan, or doxorubicin.
Stevens-Johnson syndrome
In March 2008, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) included lenalidomide on a list of twenty prescription drugs under investigation for potential safety problems. The drug was investigated for possibly increasing the risk of developing Stevens–Johnson syndrome, a life-threatening skin condition.
FDA ongoing safety review
In 2011, the FDA initiated an ongoing review of clinical trials that found an increased risk of developing cancers such as acute myelogenous leukemia and B-cell lymphoma,
Mechanism of action
Lenalidomide changes the substrate specificity of the CRL4CRBN E3 ubiquitin ligase, a complex consisting of DNA-binding protein 1 (DDB1), cullin 4a (CUL4A), regulator of cullins 1 (ROC1), and cereblon (CRBN).
IKZF1 and IKZF3 are essential transcription factors for malignant plasma cells.
Loss of IKZF1 and IKZF3 also results in increased expression and secretion of interleukin 2 and interferon gamma, which stimulates a local immune response from T cells and NK cells.
Synthesis
The first synthesis of lenalidomide was disclosed in patents filed by Celgene.
Methyl 2-methyl-3-nitrobenzoate is brominated using N-bromosuccinimide and the product is treated with 3-amino-piperidine-2,6-dione, a cyclic derivative of glutamine to form a lactam. Catalytic hydrogenation then gives lenalidomide.
History
Society and culture
Legal status
Lenalidomide was approved for medical use in the United States in 2005.[
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Economics
Lenalidomide cost per year before insurance in the United States as of 2024, with the generic version costing .[David Armstrong. " The Price of Remission". Pro Publica, May 8, 2025.] Lenalidomide made almost $9.7bn for Celgene in 2018.
Price increases
Since its initial approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2005 for the treatment of certain cancers, the price of Lenalidomide, manufactured by Celgene, has risen significantly. At its launch, the cost per pill was $218, equating to an annual cost of approximately $55,000 for a standard regimen. Following FDA approval for multiple myeloma in mid-2006, the price per pill increased to $280, or about $70,560 annually. As of 2023, the price per pill had reached $892.
According to a deposition by a Celgene executive, marked as highly confidential, the manufacturing cost of each Revlimid pill has remained approximately $0.25 throughout this period.
In 2013, the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) rejected lenalidomide for "use in the treatment of people with a specific type of the bone marrow disorder myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)" in England and Scotland, arguing that Celgene "did not provide enough evidence to justify the per month () price-tag of lenalidomide for use in the treatment of people with a specific type of the bone marrow disorder myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)".
In Australia, a 21-day course of 25 mg lenalidomide tablets costs Medicare A$2397, however, the patient only pays $30 due to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
