salcaprozate sodium

Salcaprozate sodium is a synthetic N-acetylated amino acid derivative of salicylic acid, primarily used as an oral absorption promoter and intestinal permeation enhancer for drug formulations, especially for macromolecules and poorly permeable compounds[1][3][5]. It acts as a carrier molecule to enhance the gastrointestinal absorption of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) with low bioavailability, such as insulin, heparin, and vitamin B12[1][6][7]. The mechanism of action is not fully understood but may involve increasing membrane permeability of gastrointestinal epithelial cells through membrane perturbation or fluidization, forming non-covalent complexes with APIs to facilitate transcellular transport, or locally elevating pH to protect co-administered drugs from degradation in the stomach[2][4][6]. Salcaprozate sodium has been granted Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) status by the FDA and is approved in at least one oral formulation (Eligen Vitamin B12)[2]. It has been studied extensively in clinical trials as an excipient for improving oral bioavailability of peptide and protein drugs.

Brand names

Eligen Vitamin B12

Other names

sodium 8-(2-hydroxybenzamido)octanoatesalcaprozate sodium [USAN]