pyridoxal isonicotinoyl hydrazone

Pyridoxal isonicotinoyl hydrazone (PIH) is a lipophilic, orally active tridentate iron chelator. It is a Schiff base formed by the condensation of pyridoxal (vitamin B6) and the antituberculous drug isoniazid. Originally investigated as a cost-effective alternative to desferrioxamine for treating chronic iron overload in patients with transfusion-dependent anemias (such as beta-thalassemia and sideroblastic anemia), PIH works by sequestering iron and facilitating its excretion. Beyond its role in iron chelation therapy, PIH has been studied for its potential to protect against oxidative damage in models of cerebral hemorrhage and Friedreich's ataxia by mitigating ferroptosis. Additionally, it acts as a farnesoid X receptor (FXR) antagonist, a property that has been linked to the pathogenesis of isoniazid-induced liver injury and the disruption of heme biosynthesis.

Other names

pyridoxal isonicotinoyl hydrazineisoniazid-vitamin B6 conjugate