Trientine, also known as triethylenetatramine or abbreviation TETA, is a highly selective divalent Cu(II) chelator and orphan drug that reverses copper overload in tissues. It was approved as second-line pharmacotherapy for Wilson's disease. Wilson's disease (hepatolenticular degeneration) is an autosomal inherited metabolic defect resulting in an inability to maintain a near-zero balance of copper. Excess copper accumulates possibly because the liver lacks the mechanism to excrete free copper into the bile. Hepatocytes store excess copper but when their capacity is exceeded copper is released into the blood and is taken up into extrahepatic sites. This condition is treated with a low copper diet and the use of chelating agents that bind copper to facilitate its excretion from the body. Although penicillamine treatment is believed to be more extensive, TETA therapy has been shown to be an effective initial therapy. In addition, TETA is in a clinical trial phase II for the prevention of the Macular Edema after Cataract Surgery. TETA is also considered a potential chemotherapeutic agent as it could be a telomerase inhibitor. Chelating excess copper may affect copper-induced angiogenesis. Other mechanisms of action of TETA for alternative therapeutic implications include improved antioxidant defense against oxidative stress, pro-apoptosis, and reduced inflammation.

Penicillamine, sold under the trade names of Cuprimine among others, is a medication primarily used for treatment of Wilson's disease, cystinuria and active rheumatoid arthritis. Penicillamine is a chelating agent recommended for the removal of excess copper in patients with Wilson's disease. From in vitro studies which indicate that one atom of copper combines with two molecules of penicillamine. Penicillamine also reduces excess cystine excretion in cystinuria. This is done, at least in part, by disulfide interchange between penicillamine and cystine, resulting in formation of penicillamine-cysteine disulfide, a substance that is much more soluble than cystine and is excreted readily. Penicillamine interferes with the formation of cross-links between tropocollagen molecules and cleaves them when newly formed. The mechanism of action of penicillamine in rheumatoid arthritis is unknown although it appears to suppress disease activity. Unlike cytotoxic immunosuppressants, penicillamine markedly lowers IgM rheumatoid factor but produces no significant depression in absolute levels of serum immunoglobulins. Also unlike cytotoxic immunosuppressants which act on both, penicillamine in vitro depresses T-cell activity but not B-cell activity.

Bathocuproine is a promising organic material of a hole blocking layer in organic light-emitting diodes or an electron buffer layer in organic photovoltaic cells. When a thin layer of bathocuproine is inserted between the metal electrode and the organic layer of the organic semiconductor device, the electron injection/collection efficiency at the interface is significantly improved. As an organic electronic material bathocuproine useful as OLED electron transporter and hole blocker. Bathocuproine sulphonate acts as a specific chelator of monovalent copper Cu(I).

Ditiocarb, the sodium salt of diethyldithiocarbamate, is a drug with strong antioxidant capacity and chelating activities. It improves the depressed immune responses of newborn and aged mice and mice that are treated with chemotherapy or irradiation. Ditiocarb prevents cisplatin nephrotoxicity in animals without reducing the drug's antitumor activity. Ditiocarb has therapeutic activity in the LP-BM5 murine retrovirus-induced immunodeficiency disease. In that AIDS model, it reduces lymphadenopathy and hypergammaglobulinemia, restores immunocompetence, and prolongs survival. Ditiocarb was safe and reduced the incidence of opportunistic infections in patients with symptomatic HIV infection but ditiocarb had no positive effect on HIV patients. The administration of ditiocarb did not induce any major adverse clinical or biological reactions. Sixty-four patients with nonmetastatic high-risk breast cancer were randomized in a double-blind trial of adjuvant immunotherapy with sodium ditiocarb (DDC) versus placebo. At 6 years, overall survival was 81% in DDC group versus 55%.

Fenamole is a muscle relaxant. It is effectively inhibits muscle spasms at good levels for a four hours and at significant levels for six hours. Clinical benefits were derived in patients with spasticity-spasm for periods up to 24 hours after a single oral dose. Fenamole is relatively free of adverse side effects particularly in the central nervous system. It is a potent copper chelator. It was once investigated as a potential antirheumatic agent in man.

Tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) is a low-molecular-weight linear polyamine exerting metal-chelating properties. TEPA is widely used in industrial applications. The principal hazards that arise in working with TEPA are those associated with similar organic amines; namely, a corrosive action on skin and eyes. TEPA biological activity was attributed to its effect on cellular Cu levels as (a) treatment with TEPA resulted in reduction of cellular Cu, and (b) excess of Cu reversed TEPA's activity and accelerated differentiation. TEPA was shown to attenuate the differentiation of ex vivo cultured hematopoietic cells resulting in preferential expansion of early progenitors. A phase I/II trial was performed to test the feasibility and safety of transplantation of CD133+ cord blood (CB) hematopoietic progenitors cultured in media containing stem cell factor, FLT-3 ligand, interleukin-6, thrombopoietin and TEPA. Transplanting a population of CD133+ CB cells which were expanded ex vivo for 21 days using SCF, FLT3, IL-6, TPO and the copper chelator TEPA (StemEx) was feasible. The expanded cells were well tolerated, with no infusion-related adverse events observed.

Trientine, also known as triethylenetatramine or abbreviation TETA, is a highly selective divalent Cu(II) chelator and orphan drug that reverses copper overload in tissues. It was approved as second-line pharmacotherapy for Wilson's disease. Wilson's disease (hepatolenticular degeneration) is an autosomal inherited metabolic defect resulting in an inability to maintain a near-zero balance of copper. Excess copper accumulates possibly because the liver lacks the mechanism to excrete free copper into the bile. Hepatocytes store excess copper but when their capacity is exceeded copper is released into the blood and is taken up into extrahepatic sites. This condition is treated with a low copper diet and the use of chelating agents that bind copper to facilitate its excretion from the body. Although penicillamine treatment is believed to be more extensive, TETA therapy has been shown to be an effective initial therapy. In addition, TETA is in a clinical trial phase II for the prevention of the Macular Edema after Cataract Surgery. TETA is also considered a potential chemotherapeutic agent as it could be a telomerase inhibitor. Chelating excess copper may affect copper-induced angiogenesis. Other mechanisms of action of TETA for alternative therapeutic implications include improved antioxidant defense against oxidative stress, pro-apoptosis, and reduced inflammation.

Trientine, also known as triethylenetatramine or abbreviation TETA, is a highly selective divalent Cu(II) chelator and orphan drug that reverses copper overload in tissues. It was approved as second-line pharmacotherapy for Wilson's disease. Wilson's disease (hepatolenticular degeneration) is an autosomal inherited metabolic defect resulting in an inability to maintain a near-zero balance of copper. Excess copper accumulates possibly because the liver lacks the mechanism to excrete free copper into the bile. Hepatocytes store excess copper but when their capacity is exceeded copper is released into the blood and is taken up into extrahepatic sites. This condition is treated with a low copper diet and the use of chelating agents that bind copper to facilitate its excretion from the body. Although penicillamine treatment is believed to be more extensive, TETA therapy has been shown to be an effective initial therapy. In addition, TETA is in a clinical trial phase II for the prevention of the Macular Edema after Cataract Surgery. TETA is also considered a potential chemotherapeutic agent as it could be a telomerase inhibitor. Chelating excess copper may affect copper-induced angiogenesis. Other mechanisms of action of TETA for alternative therapeutic implications include improved antioxidant defense against oxidative stress, pro-apoptosis, and reduced inflammation.

Trientine, also known as triethylenetatramine or abbreviation TETA, is a highly selective divalent Cu(II) chelator and orphan drug that reverses copper overload in tissues. It was approved as second-line pharmacotherapy for Wilson's disease. Wilson's disease (hepatolenticular degeneration) is an autosomal inherited metabolic defect resulting in an inability to maintain a near-zero balance of copper. Excess copper accumulates possibly because the liver lacks the mechanism to excrete free copper into the bile. Hepatocytes store excess copper but when their capacity is exceeded copper is released into the blood and is taken up into extrahepatic sites. This condition is treated with a low copper diet and the use of chelating agents that bind copper to facilitate its excretion from the body. Although penicillamine treatment is believed to be more extensive, TETA therapy has been shown to be an effective initial therapy. In addition, TETA is in a clinical trial phase II for the prevention of the Macular Edema after Cataract Surgery. TETA is also considered a potential chemotherapeutic agent as it could be a telomerase inhibitor. Chelating excess copper may affect copper-induced angiogenesis. Other mechanisms of action of TETA for alternative therapeutic implications include improved antioxidant defense against oxidative stress, pro-apoptosis, and reduced inflammation.