[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Pharmacology](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/) › [Hedgehog pathway inhibitors](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/hedgehog-pathway-inhibitors/) › Glasdegib

# Glasdegib

## Hedgehog pathway inhibitors?

Hedgehog pathway inhibitors

## High alert?

An error with this medicine can cause serious harm: double checks and protocols are used.

## Pregnancy: avoid?

Avoid in pregnancy. Glasdegib can cause embryo-fetal death or severe birth defects: a pregnancy test is done first, contraception is used during and for a month after treatment…

An oral Smoothened blocker used with low-dose cytarabine for newly diagnosed AML in older or unfit adults. Watch the QT interval.

Updated Nov 12, 2026

## Quick facts

**Group**
[Hedgehog pathway inhibitors](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/hedgehog-pathway-inhibitors/)

**Target**
Smoothened (SMO) receptor

**Used for**
Newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukaemia

**Key effects**
Muscle spasms · Fatigue · Taste change

**Monitor**
ECG and electrolytes · Complete blood count

**ATC**
L01XJ03

No doses: the clinician sets them by the current guideline.

On this page

- The basics Mechanism of action
- Indications
- Adverse effects
- Pharmacokinetics
- Memory aid

- Clinical What the labels mean

- Safety Contraindications
- Key interactions
- What is monitored
- Administration and safety
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Nursing care

- Study Test yourself

- Connections Connections

## Mechanism of action

◎**Smoothened (SMO) receptor**Glasdegib

ⓘ No structure with glasdegib was found. The figure shows vismodegib, another Smoothened inhibitor, in the same transmembrane pocket of human Smoothened.

**Target in 3D:** Smoothened (SMO) receptor. PDB structure 5L7I (RCSB PDB, public domain). [View the structure at RCSB PDB](https://www.rcsb.org/structure/5L7I) · Drag to rotate · pinch to zoom

Leukaemia stem cells use Hedgehog signalling to survive and resist chemotherapy. Glasdegib binds Smoothened and turns the pathway off, which makes the leukaemic cells more sensitive to low-dose cytarabine.

- Glasdegib binds Smoothened (SMO)
- Hedgehog signals in leukaemia stem cells stop
- Low-dose cytarabine kills them more easily

## Indications

- Newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukaemia, with low-dose cytarabine, in adults aged 75 or older or who cannot receive intensive induction chemotherapy. [Acute leukaemia (AML and ALL) →](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/acute-leukaemia/)

## Adverse effects

### Common

- Muscle spasms, muscle, bone or joint pain
- Fatigue, nausea, constipation, abdominal pain
- Taste change, mouth sores, decreased appetite, weight loss
- Swelling, rash, hair loss

### Serious (rare, important)

- Embryo-fetal death or severe birth defects (boxed warning)
- QT prolongation and arrhythmias (fainting, palpitations)
- Bleeding and infections
- Kidney problems (less urine)

## Contraindications

- Hypersensitivity to glasdegib

## Key interactions

**St John's wort**
Can lower glasdegib levels; avoided.

**Low-dose cytarabine (given together)**
The combination is the approved use; blood counts are watched.

**Drugs that prolong the QT interval, low potassium or magnesium**
Add to QT risk; ECG and electrolytes are checked.

## What is monitored

- ECG and electrolytes (potassium, magnesium)
- Complete blood count
- Kidney function
- Pregnancy test before starting

## Administration and safety

- Oral tablets swallowed whole, not split, chewed or crushed.
- If vomiting follows a dose, no extra dose is taken.
- No blood donation during treatment and for a month after; men do not donate semen.

## Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Avoid in pregnancy. Glasdegib can cause embryo-fetal death or severe birth defects: a pregnancy test is done first, contraception is used during and for a month after treatment, and men use condoms.

## Nursing care

- Check ECG and electrolytes before and during treatment.
- Teach to report palpitations, fainting, dizziness, bleeding or fever.
- Confirm pregnancy test and contraception; men use condoms even after vasectomy.
- Support nutrition: taste change and mouth sores are common.

## Pharmacokinetics

**Absorption**
Oral tablets once a day, with or without food.

## Memory aid

«Glasdegib in the blood»: the only Smoothened blocker used for leukaemia, paired with low-dose cytarabine.

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## With which drug is glasdegib combined?

Low-dose cytarabine.

## Which patients with AML receive glasdegib?

Newly diagnosed adults aged 75 or older or unfit for intensive chemotherapy.

## Which cardiac test is followed?

The ECG for QT prolongation.

[Add to my cards (3)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/pharmacology/glasdegib/)

[More Pharmacology questions →](https://durgical.com/en/practice/?f=pharmacology)

## What the labels mean

**High alert**
An error with this medicine can cause serious harm: double checks and protocols are used.

**Pregnancy: avoid**
Avoid in pregnancy. Glasdegib can cause embryo-fetal death or severe birth defects: a pregnancy test is done first, contraception is used during and for a month after treatment…

## Connections

## Related drugs 3

- [Vismodegib](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/vismodegib/)
- [Sonidegib](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/sonidegib/)
- [Cytarabine](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/cytarabine/)

## Related conditions 1

- [Acute leukaemia (AML and ALL)](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/acute-leukaemia/)

[← Back to the class: Hedgehog pathway inhibitors](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/hedgehog-pathway-inhibitors/)

Educational content on how drugs work; not a prescribing guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.

Sources: [Glasdegib: MedlinePlus Drug Information](https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a619004.html) (MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), 2019); [Glasdegib Maleate - NCI](https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/drugs/glasdegibmaleate) (National Cancer Institute, 2022); [ATCDDD - ATC/DDD Index](https://atcddd.fhi.no/atc_ddd_index/?code=L01XJ03) (WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, 2026).

## **Spotted a mistake?** We are always improving for the community. Tell us what is wrong and our team will review it. Report a mistake

Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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