Key takeaways
Panobinostat (Farydak) and cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) are both medications that can be used to treat multiple myeloma, a type of bone marrow cancer. However, they belong to different medication classes and have important differences. Panobinostat is a histone deacetylase inhibitor that works by preventing cancer cells from multiplying, but it has been discontinued in the United States. Cyclophosphamide, on the other hand, is an alkylating agent that damages the DNA of cancer cells, leading to their death. It is still available and used for various cancers and nephrotic syndrome in children. Cyclophosphamide can be taken orally or intravenously, while panobinostat was only available in oral form. Cyclophosphamide requires careful monitoring due to potential side effects like bladder damage and low blood cell count.
