TITLE:
The First Approved “Deuterated” Drug: A Short Review of the Concept
AUTHORS:
Robert B. Raffa, Joseph V. Pergolizzi, Robert Taylor
KEYWORDS:
Deuterium, Drug Structure, Chemical Bonds, Drug Metabolism, Duration of Action
JOURNAL NAME:
Pharmacology & Pharmacy,
Vol.9 No.10,
October
26,
2018
ABSTRACT: The first “deuterated” drug has recently been approved by the U.S. FDA (Food & Drug
Administration). A “deuterated” drug is a drug in which the hydrogen atom in one or more of the
carbon-hydrogen bonds in its chemical structure is replaced by deuterium (“heavy hydrogen”, a hydrogen isotope that
has a neutron, i.e., one neutron instead of the usual no neutrons). A carbon-deuterium (C-D) bond is more stable in the body than a carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bond. If the deuterium is strategically located in a drug’s chemical
structure, the extra stability of the bond will be more resistant to metabolic
breakdown, and the duration of drug action will be prolonged. We review the
general concept of deuterated drugs, historical examples of the classes of
application, and the new approval.