Adriamycin (generic name - Doxorubicin hydrochloride) Ð is an anthracycline antibiotic, a cytotoxic agent that selectively kills malignant cells and causes tumor regression. The method of isolation of doxorubicin was described in the US Patent No. 3,590,028 issued in 1971. The Patent protection for Adriamycin is expired. Doxorubicin binds to the DNA, and presumably inhibits nucleic acid synthesis. Pharmacia Upjohn currently manufactures the drug ADRIAMYCIN RDF" for intravenous injection. It is clinically effective against disseminated neoplastic conditions including acute lymphoblastic and myeloblastic leukemia, Wilm's tumor, neuroblastoma, soft tissue and bone sarcomas, breast carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma, transitional cell bladder carcinoma, thyroid carcinoma, Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, bronchogenic carcinoma and gastric carcinoma. The drug shows a remarkable toxicity.
