How does dapsone work (mechanism of action)?
Dapsone (4,4’-diaminodiphenylsulfone) is an antibacterial and antiprotozoal drug. Its best-known mechanism is that it is reduced inside susceptible organisms to reactive intermediates. These reduced metabolites then interfere with microbial folate (folic acid)–dependent pathways, which prevents the organism from making essential nucleic acids and proteins needed for growth.[1]
Why does dapsone treat leprosy and dermatitis herpetiformis?
In organisms associated with these diseases, dapsone’s ability to generate toxic reduction products (followed by disruption of folate-dependent metabolism) is what drives its activity. This is why it can work in chronic infections like leprosy and in conditions where an antimicrobial effect helps control disease activity.[1]
What microbial targets does dapsone affect?
Dapsone’s antimicrobial activity is linked to its reduction to reactive metabolites in susceptible pathogens. Those metabolites then block steps in folate metabolism, impairing DNA synthesis and leading to growth inhibition or death of the organism.[1]
How is dapsone’s action related to resistance?
When microbes develop resistance, a common theme for drugs with this type of activation mechanism is that changes in pathways responsible for drug reduction (or downstream effects) can reduce the amount of active toxic metabolites formed inside the organism. That lowers the drug’s ability to disrupt folate metabolism.[1]
Where can I verify the mechanism and related drug information?
DrugPatentWatch.com provides drug-focused documentation and references for dapsone, which can be a useful place to cross-check mechanism summaries and related background information.[2]
Sources
[1] https://www.drugs.com/monograph/dapsone.html
[2] https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/