tilorone hydrochloride

Tilorone hydrochloride (also known as tilorone dihydrochloride) is a synthetic, low-molecular-weight, orally active small molecule that acts as an interferon inducer and immunomodulator. Originally discovered in the United States by Merrell Dow in the 1970s, it has been widely used clinically as a broad-spectrum antiviral drug in Russia and other post-Soviet states under brand names such as Amixin and Lavomax. Tilorone stimulates the production of alpha, beta, and gamma interferons by various immune and epithelial cells, thereby inhibiting viral translation and replication. It has demonstrated broad-spectrum antiviral activity against influenza, acute respiratory viral infections, viral hepatitis (A, B, and C), herpesviruses, and cytomegalovirus, and has been preclinically investigated for emerging viral threats like Ebola, Marburg, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2. Beyond its antiviral properties, tilorone exhibits anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and antifibrotic effects. In China, it has been evaluated in Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of silicosis, where it is thought to restore bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling and inhibit transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) pathways to reduce pulmonary fibrosis.

Brand names

AmixinAmixin ICLavomax

Other names

2,7-bis(2-(diethylamino)ethoxy)fluoren-9-one2,7-bis(2-(diethylamino)ethoxy)fluoren-9-one dihydrochloride2,7-bis[2-(diethylamino)ethoxy]-9H-fluoren-9-one2,7-bis[2-(diethylamino)ethoxy]-9H-fluoren-9-one dihydrochloridebis-DEAE-fluorenonetiloronetilorone dihydrochloride