U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Divider Arrow National Institutes of Health Divider Arrow NCATS
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Details

Stereochemistry ACHIRAL
Molecular Formula C12H12N2O2S
Molecular Weight 248.301
Optical Activity NONE
Defined Stereocenters 0 / 0
E/Z Centers 0
Charge 0

SHOW SMILES / InChI
Structure of DAPSONE

SMILES

NC1=CC=C(C=C1)S(=O)(=O)C2=CC=C(N)C=C2

InChI

InChIKey=MQJKPEGWNLWLTK-UHFFFAOYSA-N
InChI=1S/C12H12N2O2S/c13-9-1-5-11(6-2-9)17(15,16)12-7-3-10(14)4-8-12/h1-8H,13-14H2

HIDE SMILES / InChI

Description
Curator's Comment: description was created based on several sources, including http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/nda/2005/021794s000_MicroR.pdf

Dapsone was synthesized in 1908 by Fromm and Wittmann. The drug was approved by FDA for the treatment of such conditions as acne vulgaris, leprosy and dermatitis herpetiformis, also the drug is used off-label for many skin diseases. Although the exact mechanism of dapsone action is unknown, it is speculated that it acts as both anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agent. It was demonstrated that dapsone suppresses ROS generation, inhibits neutrophil myeloperoxidase and eosinophil peroxidase and also inhibits bacterial dihydropteroate synthase.

Approval Year

Targets

Targets

Primary TargetPharmacologyConditionPotency
Conditions

Conditions

ConditionModalityTargetsHighest PhaseProduct
Curative
ACZONE

Approved Use

Gel is indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris.

Launch Date

1955
Curative
DAPSONE

Approved Use

Dermatitis herpetiformis: (D.H.) Leprosy: All forms of leprosy except for cases of proven Dapsone resistance.

Launch Date

1979
Curative
DAPSONE

Approved Use

Dermatitis herpetiformis: (D.H.) Leprosy: All forms of leprosy except for cases of proven Dapsone resistance.

Launch Date

1979
Cmax

Cmax

ValueDoseCo-administeredAnalytePopulation
19.7 ng/mL
110 mg 2 times / day steady-state, topical
dose: 110 mg
route of administration: Topical
experiment type: STEADY-STATE
co-administered:
DAPSONE plasma
Homo sapiens
population: UNHEALTHY
age: ADULT
sex: FEMALE / MALE
food status: UNKNOWN
1375 ng/mL
100 mg single, oral
dose: 100 mg
route of administration: Oral
experiment type: SINGLE
co-administered:
DAPSONE plasma
Homo sapiens
population: HEALTHY
age: ADULT
sex: FEMALE / MALE
food status: UNKNOWN
AUC

AUC

ValueDoseCo-administeredAnalytePopulation
415 ng × h/mL
110 mg 2 times / day steady-state, topical
dose: 110 mg
route of administration: Topical
experiment type: STEADY-STATE
co-administered:
DAPSONE plasma
Homo sapiens
population: UNHEALTHY
age: ADULT
sex: FEMALE / MALE
food status: UNKNOWN
22783 ng × h/mL
100 mg single, oral
dose: 100 mg
route of administration: Oral
experiment type: SINGLE
co-administered:
DAPSONE plasma
Homo sapiens
population: HEALTHY
age: ADULT
sex: FEMALE / MALE
food status: UNKNOWN
52641 ng × h/mL
100 mg single, oral
dose: 100 mg
route of administration: Oral
experiment type: SINGLE
co-administered:
DAPSONE plasma
Homo sapiens
population: UNHEALTHY
age: ADULT
sex: FEMALE / MALE
food status: UNKNOWN
221.52 ng × h/mL
110 mg 2 times / day steady-state, topical
dose: 110 mg
route of administration: Topical
experiment type: STEADY-STATE
co-administered:
DAPSONE plasma
Homo sapiens
population: UNHEALTHY
age: ADULT
sex: FEMALE / MALE
food status: UNKNOWN
T1/2

T1/2

ValueDoseCo-administeredAnalytePopulation
42 h
110 mg 2 times / day steady-state, topical
dose: 110 mg
route of administration: Topical
experiment type: STEADY-STATE
co-administered:
DAPSONE plasma
Homo sapiens
population: UNHEALTHY
age: ADULT
sex: FEMALE / MALE
food status: UNKNOWN
20.6 h
100 mg single, oral
dose: 100 mg
route of administration: Oral
experiment type: SINGLE
co-administered:
DAPSONE plasma
Homo sapiens
population: HEALTHY
age: ADULT
sex: FEMALE / MALE
food status: UNKNOWN
Funbound

Funbound

ValueDoseCo-administeredAnalytePopulation
10%
unknown, unknown
DAPSONE plasma
Homo sapiens
population: UNKNOWN
age: UNKNOWN
sex: UNKNOWN
food status: UNKNOWN
Doses

Doses

DosePopulationAdverse events​
300 mg 1 times / week multiple, oral
Highest studied dose
Dose: 300 mg, 1 times / week
Route: oral
Route: multiple
Dose: 300 mg, 1 times / week
Sources:
unhealthy, 38
Health Status: unhealthy
Age Group: 38
Sex: M+F
Sources:
Disc. AE: Anemia, Rash...
AEs leading to
discontinuation/dose reduction:
Anemia (11.1%)
Rash (11.1%)
Fever (11.1%)
Sources:
200 mg 1 times / week multiple, oral
MTD
Dose: 200 mg, 1 times / week
Route: oral
Route: multiple
Dose: 200 mg, 1 times / week
Sources:
unhealthy, 38
Health Status: unhealthy
Age Group: 38
Sex: M+F
Sources:
Disc. AE: Vomiting, Fever...
AEs leading to
discontinuation/dose reduction:
Vomiting (14.3%)
Fever (14.3%)
Sources:
10 g single, oral
Overdose
Dose: 10 g
Route: oral
Route: single
Dose: 10 g
Sources:
unhealthy, 45
Health Status: unhealthy
Age Group: 45
Sex: M
Sources:
Disc. AE: Cyanosis, Methaemoglobinaemia...
AEs leading to
discontinuation/dose reduction:
Cyanosis (acute)
Methaemoglobinaemia
Haemolysis
Sources:
AEs

AEs

AESignificanceDosePopulation
Anemia 11.1%
Disc. AE
300 mg 1 times / week multiple, oral
Highest studied dose
Dose: 300 mg, 1 times / week
Route: oral
Route: multiple
Dose: 300 mg, 1 times / week
Sources:
unhealthy, 38
Health Status: unhealthy
Age Group: 38
Sex: M+F
Sources:
Fever 11.1%
Disc. AE
300 mg 1 times / week multiple, oral
Highest studied dose
Dose: 300 mg, 1 times / week
Route: oral
Route: multiple
Dose: 300 mg, 1 times / week
Sources:
unhealthy, 38
Health Status: unhealthy
Age Group: 38
Sex: M+F
Sources:
Rash 11.1%
Disc. AE
300 mg 1 times / week multiple, oral
Highest studied dose
Dose: 300 mg, 1 times / week
Route: oral
Route: multiple
Dose: 300 mg, 1 times / week
Sources:
unhealthy, 38
Health Status: unhealthy
Age Group: 38
Sex: M+F
Sources:
Fever 14.3%
Disc. AE
200 mg 1 times / week multiple, oral
MTD
Dose: 200 mg, 1 times / week
Route: oral
Route: multiple
Dose: 200 mg, 1 times / week
Sources:
unhealthy, 38
Health Status: unhealthy
Age Group: 38
Sex: M+F
Sources:
Vomiting 14.3%
Disc. AE
200 mg 1 times / week multiple, oral
MTD
Dose: 200 mg, 1 times / week
Route: oral
Route: multiple
Dose: 200 mg, 1 times / week
Sources:
unhealthy, 38
Health Status: unhealthy
Age Group: 38
Sex: M+F
Sources:
Haemolysis Disc. AE
10 g single, oral
Overdose
Dose: 10 g
Route: oral
Route: single
Dose: 10 g
Sources:
unhealthy, 45
Health Status: unhealthy
Age Group: 45
Sex: M
Sources:
Methaemoglobinaemia Disc. AE
10 g single, oral
Overdose
Dose: 10 g
Route: oral
Route: single
Dose: 10 g
Sources:
unhealthy, 45
Health Status: unhealthy
Age Group: 45
Sex: M
Sources:
Cyanosis acute
Disc. AE
10 g single, oral
Overdose
Dose: 10 g
Route: oral
Route: single
Dose: 10 g
Sources:
unhealthy, 45
Health Status: unhealthy
Age Group: 45
Sex: M
Sources:
Overview

Overview

CYP3A4CYP2C9CYP2D6hERG



OverviewOther

Other InhibitorOther SubstrateOther Inducer


Drug as perpetrator​

Drug as perpetrator​

TargetModalityActivityMetaboliteClinical evidence
likely
Drug as victim
PubMed

PubMed

TitleDatePubMed
Evaluation of the sulfones and streptomycin in experimental tuberculosis.
1949 Dec 14
[Granulomatous hepatitis caused by dapsone].
1992
Dapsone-induced hemolytic anemia: effect of N-hydroxy dapsone on the sulfhydryl status and membrane proteins of rat erythrocytes.
1992 Dec
Dapsone suppresses integrin-mediated neutrophil adherence function.
1992 Feb
Dapsone induced motor polyneuropathy.
1992 Jun
Treatment of experimental pneumocystosis: review of 7 years of experience and development of a new system for classifying antimicrobial drugs.
1992 Sep
Bioavailability factors of isoniazid in fast and slow acetylators, healthy volunteers.
2002 Nov-Dec
[Dapsone-induced sensory peripheral neuropathy].
2003 Apr
[Two cases of Hansen's disease].
2003 Aug
Dapsone induced cholangitis as a part of dapsone syndrome: a case report.
2003 Aug 11
Unfolding of phonetic information over time: a database of Dutch diphone perception.
2003 Jan
[Helicobacter pylori eradication based upon a drug sensitivity test effectively increased platelet count in a patient with refractory idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura].
2003 Jul
Anticonvulsant activity of dapsone analogs. Electrophysiologic evaluation.
2003 Jul-Aug
Synthesis and evaluation of analogues of Congo red as potential compounds against transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.
2003 Jun
[Treatment of relapsing polychondritis].
2003 Mar
N-acetyltransferase 2 acetylation polymorphism: prevalence of slow acetylators does not differ between atopic dermatitis patients and healthy subjects.
2003 Nov-Dec
A second case of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium leprae isolated from a Japanese patient with relapsed lepromatous leprosy.
2003 Sep
A near fatal case of the dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome in a patient with urticarial vasculitis.
2003 Sep
A case of refractory bullous pemphigoid with plasmapheresis-associated thrombopenia: efficacy of pulsed intravenous cyclophosphamide therapy.
2004 Aug
[Disulone].
2004 Dec
Folate-synthesizing enzyme system as target for development of inhibitors and inhibitor combinations against Candida albicans-synthesis and biological activity of new 2,4-diaminopyrimidines and 4'-substituted 4-aminodiphenyl sulfones.
2004 Jan 1
Neuroprotective effect of dapsone in an occlusive model of focal ischemia in rats.
2004 Mar 5
Monitoring of ELISA for anti-BP180 antibodies: clinical and therapeutic analysis of steroid-treated patients with bullous pemphigoid.
2004 May
Differential activation of CYP2C9 variants by dapsone.
2004 May 15
Young children's sensitivity to probabilistic phonotactics in the developing lexicon.
2004 Nov
A convenient five-drug cocktail for the assessment of major drug metabolizing enzymes: a pilot study.
2004 Sep
Simultaneous determination of beta-blocking agents and diuretics in doping analysis by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry with scan-to-scan polarity switching.
2005
Dapsone syndrome with acute renal failure during leprosy treatment: case report.
2005 Feb
Relationships between nonword repetition accuracy and other measures of linguistic development in children with phonological disorders.
2005 Feb
[Dapsone-induced agranulocytosis. The role of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes demonstrated by a case report].
2005 Jul
Dapsone impairs the bile salt-independent fraction of bile flow in rats: Possible involvement of its N-hydroxylated metabolite.
2005 Jul 1
Aplastic anaemia associated with multidrug therapy (dapsone, rifampicin and clofazimine) in a patient with lepromatous leprosy.
2005 Jun
Prediction of genotoxicity of chemical compounds by statistical learning methods.
2005 Jun
Dapsone suppresses human neutrophil superoxide production and elastase release in a calcium-dependent manner.
2005 May
Complications related to dapsone use for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia prophylaxis in solid organ transplant recipients.
2005 Nov
A case of drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome with multiple organ involvement treated with plasma exchange.
2005 Oct
Renal hypersensitivity vasculitis associated with dapsone.
2005 Oct
Protective role of vitamin E on the oxidative stress in Hansen's disease (Leprosy) patients.
2005 Oct
Anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy associated with Dapsone.
2006 Aug
[Disulone and hepatosiderosis].
2006 Aug-Sep
Role of human cyclooxygenase-2 in the bioactivation of dapsone and sulfamethoxazole.
2006 Jan
[Refractory cutaneous necrotizing vasculitis. Successful sulfone therapy].
2006 Jan
Anti-inflammatory and immune therapy for Alzheimer's disease: current status and future directions.
2007 Dec
High risk of severe anaemia after chlorproguanil-dapsone+artesunate antimalarial treatment in patients with G6PD (A-) deficiency.
2008
Dapsone induces oxidative stress and impairs antioxidant defenses in rat liver.
2008 Aug 1
Dapsone-induced haemolytic anaemia, hepatitis and agranulocytosis in a leprosy patient with normal glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase activity.
2008 Dec
[A case of relapsing polychondritis monitored by repeated measurements of flow-volume curve].
2008 Mar
Dapsone-induced hemolytic anemia in lung allograft recipients.
2008 Nov
Complex phase separation in poly(acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene)-modified epoxy/4,4'-diaminodiphenyl sulfone blends: generation of new micro- and nanosubstructures.
2009 Apr 23
Establishment of knockdown of superoxide dismutase 2 and expression of CYP3A4 cell system to evaluate drug-induced cytotoxicity.
2009 Sep
Patents

Sample Use Guides

In Vivo Use Guide
Curator's Comment: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=7fc98c9b-b17a-f66f-055b-259207ad9504
Apply 5% gel to the acne affected areas twice a day (Aczone gel). In dermatitis herpetiformis, the starting oral dose is 50 mg and in leprosy, the dose is 100 mg/day (Dapsone oral formulation).
Route of Administration: Other
In Vitro Use Guide
Sources: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27354888
With Staphylococcus aureus (both methicillin-susceptible S. aureus-MSSA and methicillinresistant S. aureus-MRSA), dapsone MIC50, MIC90 were 128 ug/mL and 256 ug/mL, respectively. For Staphylococcus epidermidis overall, dapsone MIC50, MIC90 were 128 ug/mL and 256 ug/mL, respectively. Overall results with Enterococcus faecalis, dapsone MIC50, MIC90 were 256 ug/mL and 512 ug/mL, respectively. With Streptococcus agalactiae, dapsone MIC50, MIC90 were reported overall to be 32 ug/mL and 256 ug/mL, respectively. For Streptococcus pyogenes, dapsone MIC50, MIC90 were 32 ug/mL and 512 ug/mL, respectively.
Name Type Language
J04BA02
Preferred Name English
DAPSONE
EP   HSDB   INN   MART.   MI   ORANGE BOOK   USAN   USP   USP-RS   VANDF   WHO-DD   WHO-IP  
USAN   INN  
Official Name English
DAPSONE [VANDF]
Common Name English
ACZONE
Brand Name English
DAPSONE [WHO-IP]
Common Name English
NSC-6091
Code English
dapsone [INN]
Common Name English
4,4'-SULFONYLDIANILINE
Systematic Name English
DAPSONE [USP MONOGRAPH]
Common Name English
DAPSONE [HSDB]
Common Name English
DAPSONE [EP MONOGRAPH]
Common Name English
DAPSONE [MART.]
Common Name English
NOVOPHONE
Common Name English
DAPSONUM [WHO-IP LATIN]
Common Name English
DAPSONE [IARC]
Common Name English
DIAPHENYLSULFONE [JAN]
Common Name English
DIAPHENYLSULFONE
JAN  
Common Name English
DAPSONE [EP IMPURITY]
Common Name English
BENZENAMINE, 4,4'-SULFONYLBIS-
Systematic Name English
DAPSONE [ORANGE BOOK]
Common Name English
DAPSONE [MI]
Common Name English
DAPSONE [USP-RS]
Common Name English
NSC-6091D
Code English
SULFACETAMIDE SODIUM IMPURITY D [EP IMPURITY]
Common Name English
DAPSONE [USAN]
Common Name English
Dapsone [WHO-DD]
Common Name English
SERVIDAPSON
Common Name English
Classification Tree Code System Code
NDF-RT N0000008053
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
NCI_THESAURUS C849
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
WHO-VATC QD10AX05
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
WHO-ESSENTIAL MEDICINES LIST 6.2.3
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
WHO-ATC J04BA02
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
WHO-VATC QJ04BA02
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
WHO-ATC D10AX05
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
FDA ORPHAN DRUG 85694
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
NDF-RT N0000175881
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
NDF-RT N0000008053
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
FDA ORPHAN DRUG 61291
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
EPA PESTICIDE CODE 690107
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
LIVERTOX NBK548936
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
FDA ORPHAN DRUG 61191
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
Code System Code Type Description
DAILYMED
8W5C518302
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
HSDB
5073
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
MESH
D003622
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
PUBCHEM
2955
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
EVMPD
SUB06909MIG
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
ChEMBL
CHEMBL1043
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
FDA UNII
8W5C518302
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
CAS
80-08-0
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
RXCUI
3108
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
PRIMARY RxNorm
DRUG CENTRAL
782
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
ECHA (EC/EINECS)
201-248-4
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
MERCK INDEX
m4092
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
PRIMARY Merck Index
SMS_ID
100000083461
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
RS_ITEM_NUM
1164008
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
CHEBI
4325
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
INN
1676
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
WHO INTERNATIONAL PHARMACOPEIA
DAPSONE
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
PRIMARY Description: A white or creamy white, crystalline powder; odourless. Solubility: Soluble in 7000 parts of water and in 30 parts of ethanol (~750 g/l) TS; soluble in acetone R.Category: Antileprotic. Storage: Dapsone should be kept in a tightly closed container, protected from light. Additional information: Even in the absence of light, Dapsone is gradually degraded on exposure to a humid atmosphere, thedecomposition being faster at higher temperatures.
WIKIPEDIA
DAPSONE
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
LACTMED
Dapsone
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
DRUG BANK
DB00250
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
NSC
6091
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
NCI_THESAURUS
C415
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
EPA CompTox
DTXSID4020371
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:04:43 GMT 2025
PRIMARY