Nitisinone — Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient

Nitisinone is an active pharmaceutical ingredient found in 4 FDA-approved drug products. Forms: TABLET, SUSPENSION, CAPSULE. Routes: ORAL.

This content is for informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional.

Nitisinone (4 brand names, 3 dosage forms, 1 route)

Available dosage forms: TABLET, SUSPENSION, CAPSULE.

Routes of administration: ORAL.

Brand Names

  • HARLIKU
  • NITISINONE
  • NITYR
  • ORFADIN

Indications and Usage

NITYR® is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with hereditary tyrosinemia type 1 (HT-1) in combination with dietary restriction of tyrosine and phenylalanine.

Contraindications

None.

Mechanism of Action

Nitisinone is a competitive inhibitor of 4-hydroxyphenyl-pyruvate dioxygenase, an enzyme upstream of fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (FAH) in the tyrosine catabolic pathway. By inhibiting the normal catabolism of tyrosine in patients with HT-1, nitisinone prevents the accumulation of the catabolic intermediates maleylacetoacetate and fumarylacetoacetate. In patients with HT-1, these catabolic intermediates are converted to the toxic metabolites succinylacetone and succinylacetoacetate, which are responsible for the observed liver and kidney toxicity. Succinylacetone can also inhibit the porphyrin synthesis pathway leading to the accumulation of 5-aminolevulinate, a neurotoxin responsible for the porphyric crises characteristic of HT-1.

⚠ Caution
Medical Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional before taking any medication.