Disufenton sodium (Cerovive, OKN-007, NXY-059, HPN-07) is a free radical trapping nitrone-based

antioxidant Antioxidants are compounds that inhibit oxidation, a chemical reaction that can produce free radicals. This can lead to polymerization and other chain reactions. They are frequently added to industrial products, such as fuels and lubricant ...

compound that has been under development for several medical conditions.

Chemistry

Disufenton sodium is the disulfonyl derivative of the neuroprotective nitrone spin trap phenylbutylnitrone or "PBN". PBN and its derivatives hydrolyze and oxidize ''in vitro'' to form respectively MNP-OH (AKA, NtBHA) and its parent spin-trap MNP.

Research

Disufenton sodium was under development at the drug company

AstraZeneca AstraZeneca plc () is a British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company with its headquarters at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus in Cambridge, England. It has a portfolio of products for major diseases in areas includin ...

. A 2005 phase-3 clinical trial called "SAINT-1" reported some efficacy in the acute treatment of

ischemia Ischemia or ischaemia is a restriction in blood supply to any tissue, muscle group, or organ of the body, causing a shortage of oxygen that is needed for cellular metabolism (to keep tissue alive). Ischemia is generally caused by problems wi ...

injury due to

stroke A stroke is a medical condition in which poor blood flow to the brain causes cell death. There are two main types of stroke: ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and hemorrhagic, due to bleeding. Both cause parts of the brain to stop functionin ...

. However, a 2006 attempt to repeat this trial indicated no significant activity. After ruling out other causes, the authors tentatively attributed the positive results in the first trial to "chance". AstraZeneca then terminated the development programme. Disufenton sodium has been researched as a potential treatment for use in brain tumors and cancers, including

diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma Diffuse midline glioma (DMG), previously called Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) is a fatal tumour that arises in the brainstem; most commonly in the pons or thalamus. DMG is believed to be caused by genetic mutations that cause epigenetic ...

(DIPG) and

glioblastoma Glioblastoma, previously known as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), is one of the most aggressive types of cancer that begin within the brain. Initially, signs and symptoms of glioblastoma are nonspecific. They may include headaches, personality ch ...

. A compound containing a combination of disufenton sodium and

acetylcysteine Acetylcysteine, also known as ''N''-acetylcysteine (NAC), is a medication that is used to treat paracetamol overdose and to loosen thick mucus in individuals with chronic bronchopulmonary disorders like pneumonia and bronchitis. It has been used ...

(NHPN-1010) has been researched as a potential treatment for

tinnitus Tinnitus is the perception of sound when no corresponding external sound is present. Nearly everyone experiences a faint "normal tinnitus" in a completely quiet room; but it is of concern only if it is bothersome, interferes with normal hearin ...

and

hearing loss Hearing loss is a partial or total inability to Hearing, hear. Hearing loss may be present at birth or acquired at any time afterwards. Hearing loss may occur in one or both ears. In children, hearing problems can affect the ability to Language ...

Chemistry

Research

References

Further reading