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alpha-lipoic acid

Small moleculeexperimental

Thioctic acid also known as alpha-lipoic acid is a dietary supplement, which is a common ingredient in OTC (over-the-counter) multivitamin formulas and anti-aging supplements. Thioctic acid exists in both R- and S-enantiomeric forms, however, only R-form is essential as a cofactor in biological systems (the acid is coupled via an amide linkage to a lysine of several multienzyme complexes, such as the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, the alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex, the glycine cleavage system and the branched-chain oxo acid dehydrogenase complex). Most commercially available thioctic acid supplements are a mixture of both R and S enantiomers or R-form alone. Several studies have shown that the acid has beneficial effect on diabetes complications, cancer, glaucome, liver disease, etc. The mechanisms of thioctic acid is related to its antioxidant properties, metal chelator properties, however, those mechanisms need futher confirmation. — NCATS

Clinical trial activity

150 trials · 162 clinical orgs · 0 marketing orgs

Phase 1
31
Phase 2
50
Phase 3
24
Phase 4
23

Earliest trial started Oct 1, 1995 (NCT00004770)

Timeline

1990s

  1. Jan 1, 1998

    Earliest Phase 3 Sponsor(trial)

  2. Jan 1, 1999

    Earliest Phase 1 Sponsor(trial)

  3. Jan 1, 1999

    Earliest Phase 2 Sponsor(trial)

Indications

Approved for

Studied for

Mechanism of action

  • Unspecified targetAntioxidant

    antioxidant

Chemistry & pharmacology

Loading structure…

SMILES

OC(=O)CCCCC1CCSS1
Mol. weight
206.326 g/mol
Lipinski Ro5
Pass
Rule of 3
No
Chirality
Single Stereoisomer
Inorganic
No
Polymer
No

Oral

No

Parenteral

No

Topical

No

Sources

Also known as

  • 1,2 dithiolane 3 valeric acid
  • 1,2 dithiolane 3 valeric acid
  • (+)-alpha-lipoic acid
  • (+)-alpha-lipoic acid
  • alpha lipoic acid
  • alpha lipoic acid
  • alpha lipoic acid
  • alpha-lipoic acid
  • alpha-lipoic acid
  • alpha-lipoic acid
  • alpha-lipoic acid
  • alpha-lipoic acids
  • alpha-liponsäure
  • alpha-liponsäure
  • d-thioctic acid
  • d-thioctic acid
  • lipoic acid
  • lipoic acid
  • lipoic acid
  • lipoic acid
  • lipoic acid
  • lipoic acid
  • lipoic acid, alpha
  • lipoic acid, alpha
  • lipothion
  • (r)-1,2-dithiolane-3-pentanoic acid
  • (r)-1,2-dithiolane-3-pentanoic acid
  • (r)-1,2-dithiolane-3-valeric acid
  • (r)-1,2-dithiolane-3-valeric acid
  • (r)-6,8-thioctic acid
  • (r)-6,8-thioctic acid
  • r-alpha lipoic acid
  • r-alpha lipoic acid
  • r-alpha-lipoic acid
  • r-alpha-lipoic acid
  • (r)-(+)-lipoate
  • (r)-(+)-lipoate
  • (r)-(+)-lipoic acid
  • (r)-(+)-lipoic acid
  • (r)-lipoic acid
  • (r)-lipoic acid
  • (rs)-lipoic acid
  • r-(+)-thioctic acid
  • r-(+)-thioctic acid
  • thiocacid
  • thioctacid
  • thioctacid
  • thioctacid
  • thioctic acid
  • thioctic acid
  • thioctic acid
  • thioctic acid
  • thioctic acid
  • thioctic acid
  • thioctic acid
  • thioctic acid
  • thioctic acid d-form
  • thioctic acid d-form
  • thioctsan
  • tioctacid
  • tioctic acid
  • tioctic acid
  • α-lipoic acid
  • α-lipoic acid

Clinical trials

NCT IDPhaseStart dateSponsor(s)
NCT07312123N/ADec 8, 2025BREGO Life Sciences Sdn Bhd, Univerisiti Sains Malaysia
NCT07182526Phase 2Sep 20, 2025Al-Mustansiriyah University
NCT07157722Phase 3Aug 30, 2025Mansoura University, Tanta University
NCT06985394N/AMay 14, 2025University of Delaware
NCT06650384Phase 2/Phase 3 (Phase 3)Nov 1, 2024Ain Shams University
NCT06286098Phase 3Oct 20, 2024Ain Shams University, EVA pharma, Egypt, Misr University for Science and Technology
NCT06661993N/AOct 15, 2024Damanhour University, Tanta University
NCT07256119N/AAug 6, 2024Ain Shams University
NCT06201611Phase 2/Phase 3 (Phase 3)Jul 1, 2024St. John's Research Institute
NCT06568185Phase 2May 27, 2024BREGO Life Sciences Sdn Bhd, Univerisiti Sains Malaysia
NCT06418347Phase 3Apr 1, 2024Ain Shams University
NCT06406127Phase 4Apr 1, 2024Ain Shams University
NCT05945160Early Phase 1 (Phase 1)Jan 31, 2024National Institute on Aging (NIA), University of Texas, San Antonio
NCT05713799Phase 2Jan 3, 2024National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
NCT06940557Phase 2/Phase 3 (Phase 3)Dec 1, 2023BREGO Life Sciences Sdn Bhd, University Putra Malaysia
NCT06137066N/ADec 1, 2023Iovate Health Sciences International Inc, Queen's University, Belfast
NCT06151652Phase 4Dec 1, 2023Ain Shams University
NCT06121713N/ANov 15, 2023Iovate Health Sciences International Inc, University of Toronto
NCT06040190Phase 4Nov 1, 2023Federal University of Minas Gerais
NCT05958303N/AOct 31, 2023National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), University of Wisconsin
Showing 20 of 150 trials
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Organizations

Research & Development (162)

OrganizationOrg typeTrialsAs lead sponsorPhasesEarliest year
Oregon Health and Science UniversityAcademic/Hospital13832004
Ain Shams UniversityAcademic/Hospital121142019
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)Government9431999
Department of Veteran AffairsGovernment7531999
Tanta UniversityAcademic/Hospital6432016
University of California, San FranciscoAcademic/Hospital6632004
Damanhour UniversityAcademic/Hospital4412019
Augusta UniversityAcademic/Hospital3332009
BREGO Life Sciences Sdn BhdFor profit3032023
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)Government3122005
National Institute on Aging (NIA)Government3122004
Vanderbilt UniversityAcademic/Hospital3212003
All India Institute of Medical SciencesAcademic/Hospital2212019
Assiut UniversityAcademic/Hospital2222013
Atlanta Vascular Research FoundationAcademic/Hospital2012008
Catholic University of KoreaAcademic/Hospital2212004
EVA pharma, EgyptFor profit2122022
Iovate Health Sciences International IncFor profit2012023
Lo.Li. Pharma, Ltd.For profit2222015
MedaFor profit2211998
162 organizations
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