Motesanib is an experimental drug candidate. It is an orally administered small molecule antagonist

Receptor antagonist

A receptor antagonist is a type of receptor ligand or drug that does not provoke a biological response itself upon binding to a receptor, but blocks or dampens agonist-mediated responses...

 of VEGF receptors, platelet-derived growth factor receptor

Platelet-derived growth factor receptor

Platelet-derived growth factor receptors are cell surface tyrosine kinase receptors for members of the platelet-derived growth factor family. PDGF subunits -A and -B are important factors regulating cell proliferation, cellular differentiation, cell growth, development and many diseases including...

s, and stem cell factor receptors. It is used as the phosphate

Phosphate

A phosphate, an inorganic chemical, is a salt of phosphoric acid. In organic chemistry, a phosphate, or organophosphate, is an ester of phosphoric acid. Organic phosphates are important in biochemistry and biogeochemistry or ecology. Inorganic phosphates are mined to obtain phosphorus for use in...

 salt motesanib diphosphate.

Clinical trials

In 2011, it was reported that a Phase III trial did not show benefit for advanced non-squamous non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). The drug is separately undergoing Phase II evaluation as first-line therapy for breast cancer

Breast cancer

Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...

.

There has also been a clinical trial for thyroid cancer

Thyroid cancer

Thyroid neoplasm is a neoplasm or tumor of the thyroid. It can be a benign tumor such as thyroid adenoma, or it can be a malignant neoplasm , such as papillary, follicular, medullary or anaplastic thyroid cancer. Most patients are 25 to 65 years of age when first diagnosed; women are more affected...

.