lithium sulfate

Lithium sulfate is a lithium salt primarily utilized in Northern Europe, specifically Sweden, under the brand name Lithionit for the treatment and prophylaxis of bipolar disorder. Unlike the more globally common lithium carbonate, the sulfate salt is formulated as an extended-release tablet. Researchers at Karolinska University Hospital have pioneered the investigation of lithium sulfate in the field of neuro-oncology. Their work focuses on the drug's ability to inhibit glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK-3β), a key enzyme in the Wnt signaling pathway. In clinical trials, lithium sulfate is being evaluated for its potential to mitigate cognitive impairment caused by cranial irradiation in pediatric medulloblastoma patients and for its direct anti-tumor activity in glioblastoma. The proposed mechanism involves the protection of healthy neural stem cells from apoptosis while simultaneously sensitizing tumor cells to DNA-damaging therapies.

Brand names

Lithionit

Other names

Lithium sulphateDilithium sulfate