Nifurtimox

Nifurtimox, sold under the brand name Lampit, is a medication used to treat Chagas disease and sleeping sickness.[1][4] For sleeping sickness it is used together with eflornithine in nifurtimox-eflornithine combination treatment.[4] In Chagas disease it is a second-line option to benznidazole.[5] It is given by mouth.[1]

Nifurtimox
Clinical data
Trade namesLampit[1]
Other namesBayer 2502[1]
AHFS/Drugs.comDrugs.com archive
Lampit
License data
Routes of
administration		By mouth
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
Pharmacokinetic data
BioavailabilityLow
MetabolismLiver (Cytochrome P450 oxidase (CYP) involved)
Elimination half-life2.95 ± 1.19 hours
ExcretionKidney, very low
Identifiers
CAS Number
PubChem CID
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.041.377
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC10H13N3O5S
Molar mass287.29 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
ChiralityRacemic mixture
Melting point180 to 182 °C (356 to 360 °F)
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Common side effects include abdominal pain, headache, nausea, and weight loss.[1] There are concerns from animal studies that it may increase the risk of cancer but these concerns have not been found in human trials.[5] Nifurtimox is not recommended in pregnancy or in those with significant kidney or liver problems.[5] It is a type of nitrofuran.[5]

Nifurtimox came into medication use in 1965.[5] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[4] It is not available commercially in Canada.[1] It was approved for medical use in the United States in August 2020.[3] In regions of the world where the disease is common nifurtimox is provided for free by the World Health Organization (WHO).[6]

Medical uses

Nifurtimox has been used to treat Chagas disease, when it is given for 30 to 60 days.[7][8] However, long-term use of nifurtimox does increase chances of adverse events like gastrointestinal and neurological side effects.[8][9] Due to the low tolerance and completion rate of nifurtimox, benznidazole is now being more considered for those who have Chagas disease and require long-term treatment.[5][9]

In the United States nifurtimox is indicated in children and adolescents (birth to less than 18 years of age and weighing at least 2.5 kilograms (5.5 lb) for the treatment of Chagas disease (American Trypanosomiasis), caused by Trypanosoma cruzi.[2]

Nifurtimox has also been used to treat African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), and is active in the second stage of the disease (central nervous system involvement). When nifurtimox is given on its own, about half of all patients will relapse,[10] but the combination of melarsoprol with nifurtimox appears to be efficacious.[11] Trials are awaited comparing melarsoprol/nifurtimox against melarsoprol alone for African sleeping sickness.[12]

Combination therapy with eflornithine and nifurtimox is safer and easier than treatment with eflornithine alone, and appears to be equally or more effective. It has been recommended as first-line treatment for second-stage African trypanosomiasis.[13]

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Use of nifurtimox should be avoided in pregnant women due to limited use.[5][8][14] There is limited data shown that nifurtimox doses up to 15 mg/kg daily can cause adverse effects in breastfed infants.[15] Other authors do not consider breastfeeding a contraindication during nifurtimox use.[15]

Side effects

Side effects occur following chronic administration, particularly in elderly people. Major toxicities include immediate hypersensitivity such as anaphylaxis and delayed hypersensitivity reaction involving icterus and dermatitis. Central nervous system disturbances and peripheral neuropathy may also occur.[8]

Most common side effects[16][8][17][18][19]

  • anorexia
  • weight loss
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • headache
  • dizziness
  • amnesia

Less common effects[16][8][17][19]

  • rash
  • depression
  • anxiety
  • confusion
  • fever
  • sore throat
  • chills
  • seizures
  • impotence
  • tremors
  • muscle weakness
  • numbness of hands or feet

Contraindications

Nifurtimox is contraindicated in people with severe liver or kidney disease, as well as people with a background of neurological or psychiatric disorders.[5][16][20]

Mechanism of action

Nifurtimox forms a nitro-anion radical metabolite that reacts with nucleic acids of the parasite causing significant breakdown of DNA.[8] Its mechanism is similar to that proposed for the antibacterial action of metronidazole. Nifurtimox undergoes reduction and creates oxygen radicals such as superoxide. These radicals are toxic to T. cruzi. Mammalian cells are protected by presence of catalase, glutathione, peroxidases, and superoxide dismutase. Accumulation of hydrogen peroxide to cytotoxic levels results in parasite death.[8]

Manufacturing and availability
A bottle of nifurtimox

Nifurtimox is sold under the brand name Lampit by Bayer.[3] It was previously known as Bayer 2502.

Nifurtimox is only licensed for use in Argentina and Germany, where it is sold as 120-mg tablets. It was approved for medical use in the United States in August 2020.[3]

Research

Nifurtimox is in a phase-II clinical trial for the treatment of pediatric neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma.[21]

References
  1. "Nifurtimox (Systemic)". Drugs.com. 1995. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  2. "Lampit (nifurtimox) tablets, for oral use" (PDF). U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  3. "Lampit: FDA-Approved Drugs". U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  4. World Health Organization (2019). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 21st list 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/325771. WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
  5. Bern, Caryn; Montgomery, Susan P.; Herwaldt, Barbara L.; Rassi, Anis; Marin-Neto, Jose Antonio; Dantas, Roberto O.; Maguire, James H.; Acquatella, Harry; Morillo, Carlos (2007-11-14). "Evaluation and Treatment of Chagas Disease in the United States". JAMA. 298 (18): 2171–81. doi:10.1001/jama.298.18.2171. ISSN 0098-7484. PMID 18000201.
  6. "Trypanosomiasis, human African (sleeping sickness)". World Health Organization. February 2016. Archived from the original on 4 December 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  7. Coura JR, de Castro SL (2002). "A critical review of Chagas disease chemotherapy". Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 97 (1): 3–24. doi:10.1590/S0074-02762002000100001. PMID 11992141.
  8. "Nifurtimox Drug Information, Professional". www.drugs.com. Archived from the original on 2016-11-08. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
  9. Jackson, Yves; Alirol, Emilie; Getaz, Laurent; Wolff, Hans; Combescure, Christophe; Chappuis, François (2010-11-15). "Tolerance and Safety of Nifurtimox in Patients with Chronic Chagas Disease". Clinical Infectious Diseases. 51 (10): e69–e75. doi:10.1086/656917. ISSN 1058-4838. PMID 20932171.
  10. Pepin J, Milord F, Mpia B, et al. (1989). "An open clinical trial of nifurtimox for arseno-resistant T. b. gambiense sleeping sickness in central Zaire". Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 83 (4): 514–7. doi:10.1016/0035-9203(89)90270-8. PMID 2694491.
  11. Bisser S, N'Siesi FX, Lejon V, et al. (2007). "Equivalence Trial of Melarsoprol and Nifurtimox Monotherapy and Combination Therapy for the Treatment of Second-Stage Trypanosoma brucei gambiense Sleeping Sickness". J Infect Dis. 195 (3): 322–329. doi:10.1086/510534. PMID 17205469.
  12. Pepin J (2007). "Combination Therapy for Sleeping Sickness: A Wake-Up Call". J Infect Dis. 195 (3): 311–13. doi:10.1086/510540. PMID 17205466.
  13. Priotto G, Kasparian S, Mutombo W, et al. (July 2009). "Nifurtimox-eflornithine combination therapy for second-stage African Trypanosoma brucei gambiense trypanosomiasis: a multicentre, randomised, phase III, non-inferiority trial". Lancet. 374 (9683): 56–64. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(09)61117-X. hdl:10144/72797. PMID 19559476. S2CID 32757305.
  14. Schaefer, Christof; Peters, Paul W. J.; Miller, Richard K. (2014-09-17). Drugs During Pregnancy and Lactation: Treatment Options and Risk Assessment. Academic Press. ISBN 9780124079014. Archived from the original on 2017-09-08.
  15. "Nifurtimox use while Breastfeeding". Drugs.com. Archived from the original on 2016-11-08. Retrieved 2016-11-07.
  16. "Parasites - American Trypanosomiasis (also known as Chagas Disease)". U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Archived from the original on 2016-11-06. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
  17. Forsyth, Colin J.; Hernandez, Salvador; Olmedo, Wilman; Abuhamidah, Adieb; Traina, Mahmoud I.; Sanchez, Daniel R.; Soverow, Jonathan; Meymandi, Sheba K. (2016-10-15). "Safety Profile of Nifurtimox for Treatment of Chagas Disease in the United States". Clinical Infectious Diseases. 63 (8): 1056–1062. doi:10.1093/cid/ciw477. ISSN 1537-6591. PMC 5036918. PMID 27432838.
  18. Castro, José A.; de Mecca, Maria Montalto; Bartel, Laura C. (2006-08-01). "Toxic side effects of drugs used to treat Chagas' disease (American trypanosomiasis)". Human & Experimental Toxicology. 25 (8): 471–479. doi:10.1191/0960327106het653oa. ISSN 0960-3271. PMID 16937919. S2CID 8980212.
  19. Estani, Sergio Sosa; Segura, Elsa Leonor (1999-09-01). "Treatment of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in the undetermined phase. Experience and current guidelines of treatment in Argentina". Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. 94: 363–365. doi:10.1590/S0074-02761999000700070. ISSN 0074-0276. PMID 10677756.
  20. "Chagas disease". World Health Organization. Archived from the original on 2014-02-27. Retrieved 2016-11-08.
  21. Clinical trial number NCT00601003 for "Study of Nifurtimox to Treat Refractory or Relapsed Neuroblastoma or Medulloblastoma" at ClinicalTrials.gov. Retrieved on July 10, 2009.
  • "Nifurtimox". Drug Information Portal. U.S. National Library of Medicine.
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