Sulfamazone

Sulfamazone is a long-acting sulfonamide antibiotic with antipyretic properties. It belongs to the class of sulfonamides and acts as a bacteriostatic agent by inhibiting bacterial folate synthesis. Specifically, it competitively inhibits dihydropteroate synthase (also known as dihydrofolate synthetase), an enzyme required for the conversion of para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) to dihydrofolic acid in bacteria. This inhibition disrupts the production of folate-dependent nucleotides and DNA, thereby preventing bacterial growth and replication. Humans are unaffected because they do not synthesize folate endogenously but obtain it from their diet. Sulfamazone is primarily indicated for acute respiratory diseases such as primary bacterial pharyngotonsillitis and tracheobronchitis or complications arising from influenza or other viral infections of the upper respiratory tract[1][3][4]. It is marketed in Italy under the brand name Marespin but has not been approved by the FDA.

Brand names

Marespin

Other names

SulfamazonaSulfamazonumSulfamazone [INN]