Lenalid 25 mg contains Lenalidomide, an immunomodulatory medicine derived from thalidomide, designed to be more potent with fewer nerve-related side effects.
It is primarily used to treat certain cancers of the blood and bone marrow. By working on the immune system, tumour environment, and cancer cells directly, Lenalid helps slow or stop disease progression. It comes as an oral capsule, making it suitable for long-term outpatient therapy under careful medical supervision.

Mechanism of Action

Lenalidomide is a multi-faceted agent with several important actions:

• Immunomodulatory: Enhances the activity of immune cells (like T-cells and natural killer cells) to detect and destroy cancer cells.

• Anti-angiogenic: Inhibits the growth of new blood vessels that tumours need to grow.

• Direct anti-tumour effect: Promotes death of abnormal cells (apoptosis) and interferes with pathways that cancer cells use to survive and multiply.

This combined approach makes lenalidomide particularly effective in multiple myeloma and other blood-related cancers.

Uses / Indications

Lenalid is used for treating:

• Multiple myeloma (MM): often in combination with dexamethasone and sometimes with other agents. It helps prolong periods without disease worsening (progression-free survival).

• Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS): especially with deletion 5q cytogenetic abnormality, where it can reduce the need for blood transfusions.

• Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL): typically after other treatments have not worked.

Your oncologist will individualise the regimen based on disease stage, blood counts, and other patient factors.

Adverse Effects

While lenalidomide offers significant benefits, it can also cause side effects that require close monitoring.

Common side effects include:

• Lowered blood counts: anaemia (low red cells), neutropenia (low white cells), thrombocytopenia (low platelets), increasing risk of infections or bleeding.

• Fatigue, muscle cramps, or general weakness.

• Diarrhoea, constipation, nausea.

• Skin rash or itching.

Less common but serious risks:

• Blood clots (deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism) — often prompting your doctor to prescribe blood thinners.

• Second cancers: slightly increased risk with long-term use, so regular monitoring is essential.

• Rare severe skin reactions (Stevens-Johnson syndrome) or liver problems.