pifazimine

Pifazimine (B4154) is a riminophenazine derivative and a structural analogue of clofazimine, specifically developed for the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Developed by the Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences in collaboration with Beijing Xiehe Pharmaceutical Factory No. 2, pifazimine aims to provide a more potent and less toxic alternative to clofazimine, particularly by reducing the severe skin pigmentation side effects associated with the latter. Its mechanism of action involves the disruption of the mycobacterial respiratory chain; the drug is reduced by the bacterial NADH dehydrogenase (NDH-2), which subsequently leads to the generation of lethal reactive oxygen species (ROS) within the cell. Additionally, it may interfere with bacterial membrane function and bind to mycobacterial DNA. Clinical development has primarily focused on its inclusion in combination regimens for drug-resistant strains of *Mycobacterium tuberculosis*.

Other names

pifazimineB4154B-4154B 4154