menadione nicotinamide bisulfite

Menadione nicotinamide bisulfite (MNB) is a water-soluble synthetic salt of Vitamin K3 (menadione) and nicotinamide (niacinamide). While traditionally used as a nutritional supplement in animal feed, it is being developed as a topical pharmaceutical (Vitamin K3 lotion) for the treatment of cetuximab-induced folliculitis and other skin toxicities associated with Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) inhibitors. In cancer patients, EGFR inhibitors like cetuximab frequently cause inflammatory skin rashes. Topical Vitamin K3 is hypothesized to mitigate this by reactivating the EGFR signaling pathway in keratinocytes, which is otherwise blocked by the cancer therapy. MNB serves as a cofactor in the vitamin K-dependent carboxylation pathway and provides niacin activity. It is currently being evaluated in a Phase 2 clinical trial sponsored by Odense University Hospital in Denmark.

Other names

MNBVitamin K3 nicotinamide bisulfiteVitamin K3 lotion