Mycophenolic acid is a potent immunosuppressant agent that inhibits _de novo_ purine biosynthesis.[L42165] It was derived from _Penicillium stoloniferum_, and has also shown antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties.[A249170]. Mycophenolic acid is used in immunosuppressive regimens as part of a triple therapy that includes a calcineurin inhibitor (ciclosporin or tacrolimus) and prednisolone.[A249175] This regimen can be used in place of the older anti-proliferative [azathioprine] due to its stronger immunosuppressive potency.[A249180] However, mycophenolic acid treatment is more expensive and requires therapeutic drug monitoring to optimize efficacy and minimize toxicity.[A249180,A249185] Mycophenolic acid is available as enteric-coated tablets of delayed-release, in an effort to improve upper gastrointestinal adverse events by delaying mycophenolic acid release until it reaches the small intestine.[A249190] [Mycophenolate mofetil], a prodrug of mycophenolic acid, is also prescribed to transplant recipients to prevent organ rejection.[L42020]
Mycophenolic acid is an antimetabolite immunosuppressant indicated for prophylaxis of organ rejection in adult patients receiving kidney transplants and in pediatric patients at least 5 years of age and older who are at least 6 months post kidney transplant. Mycophenolic acid is used in combination with cyclosporine and corticosteroids.[L42165]
Categories
Acids, Acyclic
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Anti-Infective Agents
Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
Antimetabolite Immunosuppressant
Antineoplastic and Immunomodulating Agents
Caproates
Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C8 Substrates
Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C8 Substrates with a Narrow Therapeutic Index
Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A Substrates
Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A4 Substrates
Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A4 Substrates with a Narrow Therapeutic Index
Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A5 Substrates
Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A5 Substrates with a Narrow Therapeutic Index
Drug Info/Drug Targets: DrugBank 3.0: a comprehensive resource for 'omics' research on drugs. Knox C, Law V, Jewison
T, Liu P, Ly S, Frolkis A, Pon A, Banco K, Mak C, Neveu V, Djoumbou Y, Eisner R, Guo AC, Wishart DS.
Nucleic Acids Res. 2011 Jan; 39 (Database issue):D1035-41. | PMID:21059682
