Definition

A long-acting and recombinant form of asparaginase (Erwinia asparaginase; crisantaspase), with potential antineoplastic activity. Upon administration of long-acting recombinant Erwinia asparaginase JZP-341, the recombinant asparaginase hydrolyzes L-asparagine to L-aspartic acid and ammonia. This depletes cancer cells of asparagine, which blocks protein synthesis and tumor cell proliferation. Asparagine is critical to protein synthesis in cancer cells, which cannot synthesize this amino acid due to the absence of the enzyme asparagine synthase.