Suramin
Encyclopedia
Suramin is a drug
developed by Oskar Dressel and Richard Kothe of Bayer
, Germany
in 1916, and is still sold by Bayer under the brand name Germanin.
According to the National Cancer Institute there are no active clinical trials (as of April 1, 2008). Completed and closed clinical trials are listed here: http://www.cancer.gov/search/ResultsClinicalTrialsAdvanced.aspx?protocolsearchid=4504138
In addition to Germanin, the National Cancer Institute also lists the following "Foreign brand names": 309 F or 309 Fourneau
, Bayer 205, Moranyl, Naganin, Naganine.
s.
molecule
in the center of which lies urea
, NH-CO-NH. Suramin contains 8 benzene rings, 4 of which are fused in pairs (naphthalene
), 4 amide
groups in addition to the one of urea and six sulfonate
groups. When given as drug it usually contains six sodium
ions that form a salt with the six sulfonate groups.
and vomiting
.
About 90% of patients will get an urticarial
rash (like a nettle or poison ivy-type rash) that disappears in a few days without needing to stop treatment. There is a greater than 50% chance of adrenal cortical
damage, but only a smaller proportion will require lifelong corticosteroid
replacement. It is common for patients to get a tingling or crawling sensation of the skin with suramin. Suramin will cause clouding of the urine which is harmless: patients should be warned of this to avoid them becoming alarmed.
Kidney damage and exfoliative dermatitis
occur less commonly.
s.
Its effect on telomerase
has been investigated.
Medication
A pharmaceutical drug, also referred to as medicine, medication or medicament, can be loosely defined as any chemical substance intended for use in the medical diagnosis, cure, treatment, or prevention of disease.- Classification :...
developed by Oskar Dressel and Richard Kothe of Bayer
Bayer
Bayer AG is a chemical and pharmaceutical company founded in Barmen , Germany in 1863. It is headquartered in Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and well known for its original brand of aspirin.-History:...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 1916, and is still sold by Bayer under the brand name Germanin.
According to the National Cancer Institute there are no active clinical trials (as of April 1, 2008). Completed and closed clinical trials are listed here: http://www.cancer.gov/search/ResultsClinicalTrialsAdvanced.aspx?protocolsearchid=4504138
In addition to Germanin, the National Cancer Institute also lists the following "Foreign brand names": 309 F or 309 Fourneau
Ernest Fourneau
Ernest Fourneau was a French medicinal chemist, who played a major role in the discovery of synthetic local anesthetics, as well as in the synthesis of suramin...
, Bayer 205, Moranyl, Naganin, Naganine.
Protozoa
It is used for treatment of human sleeping sickness caused by trypanosomeTrypanosoma cruzi
Trypanosoma cruzi is a species of parasitic euglenoid trypanosomes. This species causes the trypanosomiasis diseases in humans and animals in America...
s.
Chemistry
The molecular formula of suramin is C51H34N6O23S6. It is a symmetricSymmetry
Symmetry generally conveys two primary meanings. The first is an imprecise sense of harmonious or aesthetically pleasing proportionality and balance; such that it reflects beauty or perfection...
molecule
Molecule
A molecule is an electrically neutral group of at least two atoms held together by covalent chemical bonds. Molecules are distinguished from ions by their electrical charge...
in the center of which lies urea
Urea
Urea or carbamide is an organic compound with the chemical formula CO2. The molecule has two —NH2 groups joined by a carbonyl functional group....
, NH-CO-NH. Suramin contains 8 benzene rings, 4 of which are fused in pairs (naphthalene
Naphthalene
Naphthalene is an organic compound with formula . It is a white crystalline solid with a characteristic odor that is detectable at concentrations as low as 0.08 ppm by mass. As an aromatic hydrocarbon, naphthalene's structure consists of a fused pair of benzene rings...
), 4 amide
Amide
In chemistry, an amide is an organic compound that contains the functional group consisting of a carbonyl group linked to a nitrogen atom . The term refers both to a class of compounds and a functional group within those compounds. The term amide also refers to deprotonated form of ammonia or an...
groups in addition to the one of urea and six sulfonate
Sulfonate
A sulfonate is a salt or ester of a sulfonic acid. It contains the functional group R-SO2O-.- Sulfonate salts:Anions with the general formula RSO2O− are called sulfonates. They are the conjugate bases of sulfonic acids with formula RSO2OH. As sulfonic acids tend to be strong acids, the...
groups. When given as drug it usually contains six sodium
Sodium
Sodium is a chemical element with the symbol Na and atomic number 11. It is a soft, silvery-white, highly reactive metal and is a member of the alkali metals; its only stable isotope is 23Na. It is an abundant element that exists in numerous minerals, most commonly as sodium chloride...
ions that form a salt with the six sulfonate groups.
Dosing
Suramin is administered by a single weekly intravenous injection for six weeks. The dose per injection is 1 g.Adverse reactions
The most frequent adverse reactions are nauseaNausea
Nausea , is a sensation of unease and discomfort in the upper stomach with an involuntary urge to vomit. It often, but not always, precedes vomiting...
and vomiting
Vomiting
Vomiting is the forceful expulsion of the contents of one's stomach through the mouth and sometimes the nose...
.
About 90% of patients will get an urticarial
Urticaria
Urticaria is a kind of skin rash notable for pale red, raised, itchy bumps. Hives is frequently caused by allergic reactions; however, there are many non-allergic causes...
rash (like a nettle or poison ivy-type rash) that disappears in a few days without needing to stop treatment. There is a greater than 50% chance of adrenal cortical
Adrenal cortex
Situated along the perimeter of the adrenal gland, the adrenal cortex mediates the stress response through the production of mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids, including aldosterone and cortisol respectively. It is also a secondary site of androgen synthesis.-Layers:Notably, the reticularis in...
damage, but only a smaller proportion will require lifelong corticosteroid
Corticosteroid
Corticosteroids are a class of steroid hormones that are produced in the adrenal cortex. Corticosteroids are involved in a wide range of physiologic systems such as stress response, immune response and regulation of inflammation, carbohydrate metabolism, protein catabolism, blood electrolyte...
replacement. It is common for patients to get a tingling or crawling sensation of the skin with suramin. Suramin will cause clouding of the urine which is harmless: patients should be warned of this to avoid them becoming alarmed.
Kidney damage and exfoliative dermatitis
Dermatitis
-Etymology:Dermatitis derives from Greek derma "skin" + -itis "inflammation" and genetic disorder.-Terminology:There are several different types of dermatitis. The different kinds usually have in common an allergic reaction to specific allergens. The term may describe eczema, which is also called...
occur less commonly.
Research
Suramin is also used in research as a broad-spectrum antagonist of P2 receptors and agonist of Ryanodine receptorRyanodine receptor
Ryanodine receptors form a class of intracellular calcium channels in various forms of excitable animal tissue like muscles and neurons...
s.
Its effect on telomerase
Telomerase
Telomerase is an enzyme that adds DNA sequence repeats to the 3' end of DNA strands in the telomere regions, which are found at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes. This region of repeated nucleotide called telomeres contains non-coding DNA material and prevents constant loss of important DNA from...
has been investigated.