dimercaprol

Small moleculeapproved

Approved

May 6, 1946

Dimercaprol (2, 3-dimercapto-1-propanol) or British anti-Lewisite (BAL), is a colorless or almost colorless liquid chelating agent having a disagreeable, mercaptan-like odor. Dimercaprol was developed at Oxford University during World War II as a means of treating and reversing poisoning from Lewisite, an arsenical gas used in chemical warfare (and thus initially called British anti-Lewisite [BAL]). The sulfhydryl groups of dimercaprol form complexes with certain heavy metals thus preventing or reversing the metallic binding of sulfhydryl-containing enzymes. Parenterally administered dimercaprol is used to treat arsenic, gold, copper and mercury poisoning. It is indicated in acute lead poisoning when used concomitantly with edetate clcium disodium. Dimercaprol is occasionally used in the initial treatment of severe, symptomatic Wilson disease, but generally for a short time only. — NCATS

Clinical trial activity

0 trials · 0 clinical orgs · 3 marketing orgs

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

Phase 4

Timeline

1940s

May 6, 1946
Earliest FDA Approval
May 6, 1946
Akorn, Inc. — NDA Secondary Org
May 6, 1946
Provepharm Sas — Marketing Organization

Indications

Approved for

Mechanism of action

Heavy metalsCHELATING AGENT
Heavy metals chelating agent
gold/arsenic/mercury

Approval history

approvedMay 6, 1946

Chemistry & pharmacology

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SMILES

OCC(S)CS

Mol. weight: 124.225 g/mol
Lipinski Ro5: Pass
Rule of 3: Yes
Chirality: Racemic Mixture
Inorganic: No
Polymer: No
Delivery: Parenteral
Availability: Prescription Only

Oral

Parenteral

Yes

Topical

Sources

Also known as

1,2-dimercapto-3-propanol
1,2-dimercapto-3-propanol
1,2-dithioglycerol
1,2-dithioglycerol
2,3-dimercapro
2,3-dimercapro
2,3-dimercapto-1-propanol
2,3-dimercapto-1-propanol
2,3-dimercaptol-1-propanol
2,3-dimercaptol-1-propanol
2,3-dimercaptopropanol
2,3-dimercaptopropanol
2,3-dithiopropanol
2,3-dithiopropanol
2,3-mercaptopropan-1-ol
2,3-mercaptopropan-1-ol
2,3-mercaptopropanol
3-hydroxy-1,2-propanedithiol
3-hydroxy-1,2-propanedithiol
alpha,beta-dithioglycerol
alpha,beta-dithioglycerol
anti-lewisite
anti-lewisite
bal
bal
bal
bal
b.a.l.
b.a.l.
british antilewisite
british antilewisite
british anti-lewisite
british anti-lewisite
dicaptol
dimercaprol
dimercaprol
dimercaprol
dimercaprol
dimercaprol
dimercaprol
dimercaprol
dimercaprol
dimercaprol
dimercaprol
dimercaprolum
dimercaprolum
dimercaptopropanol
dimercaptopropanol
dithioglycerine
dithioglycerine
dithioglycerine
dithioglycerol
dithioglycerol
sulfactin
sulfactin
sulfactin

Organizations

Marketing (3)

Organization	Org type	Relationship	Date
Akorn, Inc.	For profit	NDA2	May 6, 1946
Lundbeck	For profit	NDA	—
Provepharm Sas	For profit	MKTG	May 6, 1946