fluorouracil

Trade name: efudex

Small moleculeapproved

Approved

Apr 25, 1962

Fluorouracil is an antineoplastic anti-metabolite. Anti-metabolites masquerade as purine or pyrimidine - which become the building blocks of DNA. They prevent these substances from becoming incorporated into DNA during the "S" phase (of the cell cycle), stopping normal development and division. Fluorouracil blocks an enzyme which converts the cytosine nucleotide into the deoxy derivative. In addition, DNA synthesis is further inhibited because Fluorouracil blocks the incorporation of the thymidine nucleotide into the DNA strand. Fluorouracil is used for the topical treatment of multiple actinic or solar keratoses. In the 5% strength it is also useful in the treatment of superficial basal cell carcinomas when conventional methods are impractical, such as with multiple lesions or difficult treatment sites. Fluorouracil injection is indicated in the palliative management of some types of cancer, including colon, esophageal, gastric, rectum, breast, biliary tract, stomach, head and neck, cervical, pancreas, renal cell, and carcinoid. — NCATS

Clinical trial activity

2,567 trials · 1,101 clinical orgs · 36 marketing orgs

Phase 1
483
Phase 2
2027
Phase 3
707
Phase 4
58

Earliest trial started Sep 1, 1977 (NCT00427570)

Timeline

1960s

  1. Apr 25, 1962

    Earliest FDA Approval

  2. Apr 25, 1962

    Spectrum Pharmaceuticals — NDA Secondary Org

1970s

  1. Jul 29, 1970

    Bausch Health Companies — First NDA Organization

  2. Jul 29, 1970

    Bausch Health Companies — NDA Secondary Org

  3. Jul 29, 1970

    Bausch Health Companies — Marketing Organization

  4. Jul 29, 1970

    Bausch Health Companies — NDA Organization

  5. Jul 29, 1970

    EXTROVIS — Marketing Organization

  6. Jul 31, 1970

    Elorac, Inc. — NDA Secondary Org

  7. Aug 6, 1971

    Chartwell Pharmaceuticals — Marketing Organization

  8. Aug 6, 1971

    Almirall — NDA Secondary Org

  9. Aug 6, 1971

    Chartwell Pharmaceuticals — NDA Secondary Org

  10. Jan 1, 1977

    Earliest Phase 3 Sponsor(trial)

  11. Jan 1, 1978

    Earliest Phase 2 Sponsor(trial)

1980s

  1. Oct 13, 1982

    Spectrum Pharmaceuticals — Marketing Organization

  2. Jan 18, 1983

    Marchar — Marketing Organization

  3. Jan 1, 1988

    Earliest Phase 1 Sponsor(trial)

  4. Jan 26, 1988

    Bedford Pharmaceuticals — Marketing Organization

1990s

  1. Sep 30, 1998

    Fresenius — Marketing Organization

2000s

  1. Jan 27, 2000

    Teva — Marketing Organization

  2. Nov 5, 2003

    Taro Pharmaceuticals — Marketing Organization

  3. Apr 26, 2007

    Accord Research — Marketing Organization

  4. Apr 11, 2008

    Mayne Pharma — Marketing Organization

  5. Apr 11, 2008

    Dr. Reddy's Laboratories — Marketing Organization

  6. Aug 11, 2008

    EBEWE Pharma — Marketing Organization

2010s

  1. Mar 5, 2010

    Sun Pharmaceuticals — Marketing Organization

  2. May 2, 2011

    Sandoz — Marketing Organization

  3. May 2, 2011

    Novartis — Marketing Organization

  4. Jul 17, 2012

    Eugia Pharma — Marketing Organization

  5. Jul 17, 2012

    Mylan — Marketing Organization

  6. Sep 18, 2015

    Hill Dermaceuticals, Inc. — NDA Secondary Org

  7. Feb 17, 2016

    Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc. — Marketing Organization

  8. May 11, 2017

    Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. — Marketing Organization

  9. Oct 27, 2017

    Gland Pharma Ltd — Marketing Organization

  10. Oct 27, 2017

    Fosun — Marketing Organization

  11. Dec 11, 2019

    Ingenus Pharmaceuticals — Marketing Organization

  12. Dec 11, 2019

    Novast Labs — Marketing Organization

2020s

  1. Mar 3, 2023

    Alembic — Marketing Organization

  2. Nov 2, 2023

    Encube Ethicals Pvt. Ltd. — Marketing Organization

  3. Sep 24, 2024

    KINDOS — Marketing Organization

  4. Feb 20, 2026

    AVYXA HOLDINGS — Marketing Organization

Indications

Studied for

Mechanism of action

Approval history

  • approvedPriority reviewApr 25, 1962

Chemistry & pharmacology

Loading structure…

SMILES

FC1=CNC(=O)NC1=O
Mol. weight
130.0772 g/mol
Lipinski Ro5
Pass
Rule of 3
No
Chirality
Achiral Molecule
Inorganic
No
Polymer
No
Delivery
Parenteral, Topical
Availability
Prescription Only

Oral

No

Parenteral

Yes

Topical

Yes

Sources

Also known as

  • 5-flourouracil
  • 5-fluoracil
  • 5-fluoracil
  • 5-fluoropyrimidine-2,4-dione
  • 5-fluoropyrimidine-2,4-dione
  • 5 fluorouracil
  • 5 fluorouracil
  • 5-fluorouracil
  • 5-fluorouracil
  • 5-fluorouracil
  • 5-fluorouracil
  • 5-fluorouracil
  • 5-fluorouracil
  • 5-fluorouracil
  • 5-fluracil
  • 5-fluracil
  • 5-fluracil
  • 5-fu
  • 5-fu
  • 5-fu
  • 5-fu
  • 5-fu
  • 5.f.u.
  • accusite
  • accusite
  • actikerall
  • adrucil
  • adrucil
  • adrucil
  • adrucil
  • carac
  • carac
  • carac
  • efudex
  • efudex
  • efudex
  • efudex
  • efudix
  • efudix
  • fluoroblastin
  • fluoroplex
  • fluoroplex
  • fluoroplex
  • fluorouracil
  • fluorouracil
  • fluorouracil
  • fluorouracil
  • fluorouracil
  • fluorouracil
  • fluorouracil
  • fluorouracil
  • fluorouracil
  • fluoro uracil
  • fluoro uracil
  • fluoro uracil
  • fluorouracil.
  • fluorouracil.
  • fluorouracilo
  • fluorouracilo
  • fluoro-uracil roche
  • fluorouracilum
  • fluorouracilum
  • fluoruracil
  • fluoruracil
  • fluouracil
  • fluouracil
  • fluouracil
  • fluracil
  • fluracil
  • fluracil
  • folfiri
  • folfiri
  • folfirinox
  • folfox
  • folfox
  • folfox-4
  • folfox-4
  • fu
  • fu
  • ro-29757
  • ro-29757

Clinical trials

NCT IDPhaseStart dateSponsor(s)
NCT07271355Phase 3Jul 1, 2026City of Hope National Medical Center, National Cancer Institute (NCI)
NCT07041749N/AJun 1, 2026Assiut University
NCT07283705Phase 2May 18, 2026Bristol-Myers Squibb, University of Texas at Houston
NCT07221149Phase 2/Phase 3 (Phase 3)Mar 9, 2026Biontech, Bristol-Myers Squibb
NCT07221357Phase 2/Phase 3 (Phase 3)Mar 4, 2026Biontech, Bristol-Myers Squibb
NCT07290985Phase 2Mar 1, 2026American Association for Cancer Research, Jazz Pharmaceuticals
NCT06978062Phase 1Feb 20, 2026European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer, Johannes Gutenburg University, University of Mannheim, University of Oxford
NCT07284849Phase 3Feb 16, 2026Incyte
NCT07283848Phase 2Feb 1, 2026Arcus Biosciences, Inc., Gateway for Cancer Research, Harvard University
NCT06998940Phase 3Jan 6, 2026National Cancer Institute (NCI), SWOG Cancer Research Network
NCT07004413Phase 3Jan 1, 2026Humboldt University
NCT07298772Phase 1/Phase 2 (Phase 2)Dec 31, 2025Suzhou Suncadia Biopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.
NCT07229846Phase 2Dec 31, 2025Harbin Medical University
NCT07238283Phase 3Dec 31, 2025Hengrui Therapeutics, Inc.
NCT07255404Phase 2Dec 31, 2025Biontech, Bristol-Myers Squibb
NCT07150403Phase 2Dec 31, 2025Federation Francophone de Cancerologie Digestive
NCT06783491Phase 3Dec 31, 2025Spanish Association of Surgeons (AEC), Spanish Cooperative Group for the Treatment of Digestive Tumours (TTD), Universidad de Cordoba
NCT07251062Phase 2/Phase 3 (Phase 3)Dec 30, 2025Shijiazhuang Pharma Group (CSPC)
NCT06967987Phase 2Dec 30, 2025Institut de Cancerologie de l'Ouest Paul Papin
NCT07277842Phase 3Dec 29, 2025Sun Yat-Sen University
Showing 20 of 2,567 trials
Page 1 / 129

Organizations

Research & Development (1,101)

OrganizationOrg typeTrialsAs lead sponsorPhasesEarliest year
National Cancer Institute (NCI)Government35412551977
Sun Yat-Sen UniversityAcademic/Hospital13312931998
Fudan UniversityAcademic/Hospital947752006
SanofiFor profit833341997
RocheFor profit714141998
Harvard UniversityAcademic/Hospital624031994
University of Texas at HoustonAcademic/Hospital574241992
MerckFor profit512642005
UNICANCERAcademic/Hospital474121994
AmgenFor profit461942002
Bristol-Myers SquibbFor profit431431999
GenentechFor profit431742001
Cornell UniversityAcademic/Hospital422941995
Jiao Tong UniversityAcademic/Hospital423151997
Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesAcademic/Hospital412642002
Federation Francophone de Cancerologie DigestiveAcademic/Hospital413221993
Zhejiang UniversityAcademic/Hospital412952006
European Organisation for Research and Treatment of CancerAcademic/Hospital403541993
PfizerFor profit351741999
Groupe Cooperateur Multidisciplinaire en Oncologie (GERCOR)Academic/Hospital332731998
1,101 organizations
Page 1 / 56

Marketing (49)

OrganizationOrg typeRelationshipDate
AVYXA HOLDINGSFor profitMKTGFeb 20, 2026
AbicFor profitMKTG
AbraxisFor profitMKTG
Accord ResearchFor profitMKTGApr 26, 2007
AlembicFor profitMKTGMar 3, 2023
AlembicFor profitSYNOct 18, 2023
AlmirallFor profitNDA2Aug 6, 1971
Athenex, Inc.For profitMKTG
Bausch Health CompaniesFor profitNDA2Jul 29, 1970
Bausch Health CompaniesFor profitSYNOct 27, 2000
Bausch Health CompaniesFor profitMKTGJul 29, 1970
Bausch Health CompaniesFor profitNDAJul 29, 1970
Bedford PharmaceuticalsFor profitMKTGJan 26, 1988
Chartwell PharmaceuticalsFor profitMKTGAug 6, 1971
Chartwell PharmaceuticalsFor profitNDA2Aug 6, 1971
Dr. Reddy's LaboratoriesFor profitMKTGApr 11, 2008
EBEWE PharmaFor profitMKTGAug 11, 2008
EXTROVISFor profitMKTGJul 29, 1970
Elorac, Inc.For profitNDA2Jul 31, 1970
Encube Ethicals Pvt. Ltd.For profitMKTGNov 2, 2023
Eugia PharmaFor profitMKTGJul 17, 2012
FosunFor profitMKTGOct 27, 2017
FreseniusFor profitMKTGSep 30, 1998
Gland Pharma LtdFor profitMKTGOct 27, 2017
Gland Pharma LtdFor profitSYNOct 27, 2017
Hill Dermaceuticals, Inc.For profitNDA2Sep 18, 2015
Ingenus PharmaceuticalsFor profitMKTGDec 11, 2019
KINDOSFor profitMKTGSep 24, 2024
MarcharFor profitMKTGJan 18, 1983
Mayne PharmaFor profitMKTGApr 11, 2008
MylanFor profitMKTGJul 17, 2012
MylanFor profitSYNApr 20, 2015
MylanFor profitSYNApr 20, 2015
Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.For profitMKTGMay 11, 2017
NovartisFor profitMKTGMay 2, 2011
Novast LabsFor profitMKTGDec 11, 2019
Pharmacia & UpjohnFor profitNDA2
Pharmacia & UpjohnFor profitMKTG
Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc.For profitMKTGFeb 17, 2016
Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc.For profitSYNFeb 17, 2016
SandozFor profitMKTGMay 2, 2011
Smith & NephewFor profitMKTG
Spectrum PharmaceuticalsFor profitNDA2Apr 25, 1962
Spectrum PharmaceuticalsFor profitMKTGOct 13, 1982
Sun PharmaceuticalsFor profitMKTGMar 5, 2010
Taro PharmaceuticalsFor profitSYNMar 5, 2010
Taro PharmaceuticalsFor profitMKTGNov 5, 2003
TevaFor profitSYNAug 28, 1991
TevaFor profitMKTGJan 27, 2000