Desferrithiocin (DFT) is a siderophore isolated from Streptomyces antibiotics strain DSM 1865. It has a high affinity and selectivity for ferric iron. In vivo studies demonstrated that desferrithiocin increases iron excretion when given orally to iron-loaded monkeys and rats with hepatic iron loading induced by a ferrocene derivative, indicating its potential in iron chelation therapy. However, the drug was considered to be too toxic for human clinical trials.