Bendamustine is a nitrogen mustard used in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and lymphomas. It belongs to the family of drugs called alkylating agents. It is also being studied for the treatment of sarcoma. Bendamustine is a white, water soluble microcrystalline powder with amphoteric properties. It acts as an alkylating agent causing intra-strand and inter-strand cross-links between DNA bases. After intravenous infusion it is extensively metabolised in the liver by cytochrome p450. More than 95% of the drug is bound to protein - primarily albumin. Only free bendamustine is active. Elimination is biphasic with a half-life of 6–10 minutes and a terminal half-life of approximately 30 minutes. It is eliminated primarily through the kidneys. This paragraph is inconsistent with sidebar for primary excretion pathway.
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