Suramin
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Suramin
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| Systematic (IUPAC) name | |
| ? | |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | ? |
| ATC code | P01CX02 |
| PubChem | 5361 |
| Chemical data | |
| Formula | C51H40N6O23S6 |
| Mol. weight | 1297.29 |
| Pharmacokinetic data | |
| Bioavailability | ? |
| Metabolism | ? |
| Half life | ? |
| Excretion | ? |
| Therapeutic considerations | |
| Pregnancy cat. |
? |
| Legal status | |
| Routes | ? |
Suramin is a medicinal drug developed by Oskar Dressel of Bayer, Germany in 1916. It is used for treatment of human sleeping sickness, onchocerciasis and other diseases caused by trypanosomes and worms.
The molecular formula of suramin is C51H34N6O23S6. It is a symmetric molecule in the center of which lies urea, NH-CO-NH. Suramin contains 8 benzene rings, 4 of which are fused in paires (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.
Suramin is admistered by a single weekly intravenous injection for six weeks. The dose per injection is 1 g. Most frequent adverse reactions are nausea, vomiting, urticaria and less often renal damage and exfoliative dermatitis.
Suramin is also used in research as a broad-spectrum antagonist of P2 receptors (ATP receptors) and agonist of Ryanodine receptors.
