RT001

RT001 is a synthetic, deuterated analog of the essential polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) linoleic acid. Developed by Retrotope, it is designed to protect cellular membranes from lipid peroxidation, a pathological process where reactive oxygen species attack the bis-allylic carbon-hydrogen bonds of PUFAs, leading to a self-propagating chain reaction of oxidative damage and cell death (ferroptosis). By replacing the hydrogen atoms at the 11th carbon position with deuterium, RT001 utilizes the kinetic isotope effect to strengthen these bonds, making them significantly more resistant to oxidative cleavage. This stabilization helps maintain membrane integrity and mitochondrial function in neurodegenerative diseases characterized by high levels of oxidative stress. Despite showing promise in early studies, the development of RT001 was largely halted following the failure of a pivotal Phase 3 trial in Friedreich's ataxia and the subsequent financial restructuring and bankruptcy of its developer, Retrotope, in 2022.

Other names

11,11-D2-ethyl linoleatedeuterated linoleic acid ethyl ester11,11-dideuterolinoleic acid ethyl esterD2-linoleic acidD-2-linoleic acidD 2-linoleic acid