Rasburicase

Literature References: Recombinant form of fungal urate oxidase expressed in Saccharomycese cerevisiae; converts uric acid into the more soluble compound, allantoin, which is readily excreted by the kidneys. The natural enzyme is endogenous in most mammals but is absent in higher primates where uric acid is the end-product of purine metabolism. Prepn: D. Caput et al., EP 408461; eidem, US 5382518 (1991, 1995 both to Sanofi); P. Leplatois et al., Gene 122, 139 (1992). Comparison with natural enzyme: A. Bayol et al., Biotechnol. Appl. Biochem. 36, 21 (2002). Radioimmunoassay in plasma: D. Dussossoy et al., J. Pharm. Sci. 85, 955 (1996). Clinical pharmacokinetics in cancer patients: C.-H. Pui et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 19, 697 (2001). Clinical comparison with allopurinol in pediatric hyperuricemia: S. C. Goldman et al., Blood 97, 2998 (2001). Review: C.-H. Pui, Expert Opin. Pharmacother. 3, 433-452 (2002); V. Oldfield, C. M. Perry, Drugs 66, 529-545 (2006).