Ceranib1 is an inhibitor of ceramidase. It inhibits the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells. Ceranib1 inhibits ceramidase activity toward an exogenous ceramide analog, induces the accumulation of multiple ceramide species, decreases levels of S1P and sphingosine.

Ceranib1 produces a dose-dependent decrease in ceramidase activity, with 50% inhibition at 55 and 28 μM in SKOV3 cells. Ceranib1 prevents the hydrolysis of endogenous ceramide species and reduces intracellular sphingosine and S1P. Ceranib1 (10 nM-10 μM; 72 hours) exhibits antiproliferative activity for SKOV3 cells. Ceranib1 (24 hours) does not cause significant acute cytotoxicity at concentrations up to at least those used in the ceramidase assay in SKOV3 cells[1].