YM155 is a novel survivin suppressant that is currently in clinical development by Astellas Pharma, Inc. YM155 inhibited the growth of 119 human cancer cell lines, with the greatest activity in lines derived from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, hormone-refractory prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, sarcoma, non-small-cell lung cancer, breast cancer, leukemia and melanoma. The gene discussed is BIRC5; the disease is cancer.