Investigational Drug Details
Drug ID: | D491 |
Drug Name: | Methylene blue |
Synonyms: | |
Type: | small molecule |
DrugBank ID: | DB09241 |
DrugBank Description: | Methylene blue is an oxidation-reduction agent. The intravenous form of methylene blue is approved by the FDA for the treatment of pediatric and adult patients with acquired methemoglobinemia. Historically, it has been widely used in Africa to treat malaria, but now it disappeared when chloroquine (CQ) and other drugs entered the market. Its use as an urinary tract antiseptic has also been investigated. Methylthioninium chloride (INN, or methylene blue, proposed trade name Rember) is an investigational drug being developed by the University of Aberdeen and TauRx Therapeutics that has been shown in early clinical trials to be an inhibitor of Tau protein aggregation. The drug is of potential interest for the treatment of patients with Alzheimer's disease. |
PubChem ID: | 6099 |
CasNo: | 61-73-4 |
Repositioning for NAFLD: | Yes |
SMILES: | [Cl-].CN(C)C1=CC2=[S+]C3=C(C=CC(=C3)N(C)C)N=C2C=C1 |
Structure: |
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InChiKey: | CXKWCBBOMKCUKX-UHFFFAOYSA-M |
Molecular Weight: | 319.85 |
DrugBank Targets: | Guanylate cyclase soluble subunit alpha-2; Nitric oxide synthase, brain |
DrugBank MoA: | * Main mechanism of action involves inhibition of nitric oxide synthase and guanylate cyclase. * In Alzheimers Disease: a mechanistic study found that methylene blue oxidizes cysteine sulfhydryl groups on tau to keep tau monomeric. One preclinical treatment study in tauopathy mice reported anti-inflammatory or neuroprotective effects mediated by the Nrf2/antioxidant response element (ARE); another reported insoluble tau reduction and a learning and memory benefit when given early. * In Methemoglobinemia: Methylene Blue acts by reacting within RBC to form leukomethylene blue, which is a reducing agent of oxidized hemoglobin converting the ferric ion (fe+++) back to its oxygen-carrying ferrous state(fe++). * As antimalarial agent: Methylene Blue, a specific inhibitor of P.falciparum glutathione reductase has the potential to reverse CQ resistance and it prevents the polymerization of haem into haemozoin similar to 4-amino-quinoline antimalarials. * For ifosfamide induced neurotoxicity: Methylene blue functions as an alternate electron acceptor. It acts to reverse the NADH inhibition caused by gluconeogenesis in the liver while blocking the transformation of chloroethylamine into chloroacetaldehyde. In addition, it inhibits various amine oxidase activities, which also prevents the formation of chloroacetaldehyde. |
DrugBank Pharmacology: | |
DrugBank Indication: | Indicated for the treatment of pediatric and adult patients with acquired methemoglobinemia. Other clinical applications of methylene blue include improvement of hypotension associated with various clinical states, an antiseptic in urinary tract infections, treatment of hypoxia and hyperdynamic circulation in cirrhosis of liver and severe hepatopulmonary syndrome, and treatment of ifofosamide induced neurotoxicity. |
Targets: | |
Therapeutic Category: | |
Clinical Trial Progress: | |
Latest Progress: |

Trial ID | Source ID | Phases | Status | Study Results | Start Date | Last Update Posted | |
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L5324 | NCT05689099 | PHASE1 | COMPLETED | NO | 2023-01-17 | 2024-10-15 | Details |
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