Pharmacological use of deuterium oxide
Fig 1.Development of deuterated drugs using deuterium oxide
Deuterium oxide or heavy water is widely used in studies of metabolism of drugs in humans and other animals. Deuterium from deuterium oxide (D2O) can be exchanged directly into finished drug compounds.
A deuterium containing or deuterated drug is a kind of medicine which one or more of its hydrogen atoms are substituted by deuterium atoms. Metabolic studies have shown that slower metabolism of deuterium containing drugs often allows for longer effective benefit, smaller or less frequent doses and fewer side effects of the drug.
In April 2017 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first deuterated drug, AUSTEDO™ by Teva (previously referred to as SD-809). Austedo was developed for the treatment of chorea, random involuntary twisting movements, which is associated with Huntington’s disease.
Source:
http://www.tevapharm.com/news/teva_announces_fda_approval_of_austedo_deutetrabenazine_tablets_for_the_treatment_of_tardive_dyskinesia_in_adults_08_17.aspx
