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Investigational Drug Details

Drug ID: D179
Drug Name: Niacin
Synonyms:
Type: small molecule
DrugBank ID: DB00627
DrugBank Description: Niacin is a B vitamin used to treat vitamin deficiencies as well as hyperlipidemia, dyslipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and to reduce the risk of myocardial infarctions.[L7550,L7553,L7556,L7559,L7562,L7565]
PubChem ID: 938
CasNo: 59-67-6
Repositioning for NAFLD: Yes
SMILES: OC(=O)C1=CN=CC=C1
Structure:
InChiKey: PVNIIMVLHYAWGP-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Molecular Weight: 123.1094
DrugBank Targets: Hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor 3; Hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor 2; Nicotinate-nucleotide pyrophosphorylase [carboxylating]; Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase
DrugBank MoA: Niacin performs a number of functions in the body and so has many mechanisms, not all of which have been fully described.[A19555] Niacin can decrease lipids and apolipoprotein B (apo B)-containing lipoproteins by modulating triglyceride synthesis in the liver, which degrades apo B, or by modulating lipolysis in adipose tissue.[A19555] Niacin inhibits hepatocyte diacylglycerol acyltransferase-2.[A19555] This action prevents the final step of triglyceride synthesis in hepatocytes, limiting available triglycerides for very low density lipoproteins (VLDL).[A19555] This activity also leads to intracellular degradation of apo B and decreased production of low density lipoproteins, the catabolic product of VLDL.[A19555] Niacin also inhibits a high density lipoprotein (HDL) catabolism receptor, which increases the levels and half life of HDL.[A19555]
DrugBank Pharmacology: Niacin is a B vitamin used to treat vitamin deficiencies as well as hyperlipidemia, dyslipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and to reduce the risk of myocardial infarctions.[L7550,L7553,L7556,L7559,L7562,L7565] Niacin acts to decrease levels of very low density lipoproteins and low density lipoproteins, while increasing levels of high density lipoproteins.[A19555] Niacin has a wide therapeutic window with usual oral doses between 500mg and 2000mg.[L7550] Patients with diabetes, renal failure, uncontrolled hypothyroidism, and elderly patients taking niacin with simvastatin or lovastatin are at increased risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis.[L7550]
DrugBank Indication: Niacin is indicated to prevent vitamin deficiencies in pediatric and adult patients receiving parenteral nutrition as part of multivitamin intravenous injections.[L7550,L7553,L7556,L7559] Niacin oral tablets are indicated as a monotherapy or in combination with simvastatin or lovastatin to treat primary hyperlipidemia and mixed dyslipidemia.[L7562,L7565] It can also be used to reduce the risk of nonfatal myocardial infarctions in patients with a history of myocardial infarction and hyperlipidemia.[L7562,L7565] Niacin is also indicated with bile acid binding resins to treat atherosclerosis in patients with coronary artery disease and hyperlipidemia or to treat primary hyperlipidemia.[L7562,L7565] Finally niacin is indicated to treat severe hypertriglyceridemia.[L7562,L7565]
Targets:
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