Denileukin diftitox

Overview
Denileukin diftitox, otherwise known as Ontak is an antineoplastic agent, an engineered protein combining Interleukin-2 and Diphtheria toxin. This can bind to Interleukin-2 receptors and introduce the diphtheria toxin into cells that express those receptors, killing the cells. In some Leukemias and Lymphomas malignant cells express these receptors, so denileukin diftitox can target these.

A recent study at the University of Louisville found the drug caused many stage IV malignant melanoma tumors to regress and even stabilize, extending patient life expectancy from about eight months to, as of now, more than a year- which is significant given metastatic malignant melanoma's grave prognosis and poor treatment response.

There is some evidence tying it to vision loss.