Phenylbutyric acid

Identification

Summary

Phenylbutyric acid is an agent indicated for the adjunctive therapy for the management of chronic urea cycle disorders due to deficiencies in specific enzymes, including the neonatal-onset deficiency and late-onset disease with a history of hyperammonemic encephalopathy.

Brand Names
Ammonaps, Buphenyl, Olpruva 2 Gm Pack, Pheburane, Relyvrio
Generic Name
Phenylbutyric acid
DrugBank Accession Number
DB06819
Background

Phenylbutyric acid is a fatty acid and a derivative of butyric acid naturally produced by colonic bacteria fermentation. It demonstrates a number of cellular and biological effects, such as relieving inflammation and acting as a chemical chaperone.1 It is used to treat genetic metabolic syndromes, neuropathies, and urea cycle disorders.2,3

Type
Small Molecule
Groups
Approved, Investigational
Structure
Weight
Average: 164.2011
Monoisotopic: 164.083729628
Chemical Formula
C10H12O2
Synonyms
  • 4-Phenyl-n-butyric acid
  • 4-phenylbutyrate
  • 4-phenylbutyric acid
  • Benzenebutyric acid
  • PBA
  • Phenylbutyrate
  • γ-Phenyl-n-butyric acid
  • γ-phenylbutyric acid
  • ω-Phenylbutanoic acid
  • ω-phenylbutyric acid
External IDs
  • NSC-295

Pharmacology

Indication

Phenylbutyric acid is used for the treatment of various conditions, including urea cycle disorders, neonatal-onset deficiency, late-onset deficiency disease in patients with a history of hyperammonemic encephalopathy. Phenylbutyric acid must be combined with dietary protein restriction and, in some cases, essential amino acid supplementation.2

Phenylbutyric acid, as sodium phenylbutyrate, is used in combination with tauroursodeoxycholic acid to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in adults.3,5

Reduce drug development failure rates
Build, train, & validate machine-learning models
with evidence-based and structured datasets.
See how
Build, train, & validate predictive machine-learning models with structured datasets.
See how
Associated Conditions
Indication TypeIndicationCombined Product DetailsApproval LevelAge GroupPatient CharacteristicsDose Form
Used in combination to manageAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (als)Combination Product in combination with: Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (DB08834)•••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Used in combination to manageAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (als)Combination Product in combination with: Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (DB08834)••••••••••••
Adjunct therapy in management ofArgininosuccinate synthetase deficiency (citrullinemia)••••••••••••
Adjunct therapy in management ofCarbamyl phosphate synthetase deficiency••••••••••••
Adjunct therapy in management ofOrnithine transcarbamylase deficiency••••••••••••
Contraindications & Blackbox Warnings
Prevent Adverse Drug Events Today
Tap into our Clinical API for life-saving information on contraindications & blackbox warnings, population restrictions, harmful risks, & more.
Learn more
Avoid life-threatening adverse drug events with our Clinical API
Learn more
Pharmacodynamics

Phenylbutyric acid decreases elevated plasma ammonia glutamine levels in patients with urea cycle disorders. It increases waste nitrogen excretion in the form of phenylacetylglutamine.2

In the intestines, phenylbutyric acid was shown to reduce mucosal inflammation, regulate transepithelial fluid transport, and improve oxidative status. Some studies report antineoplastic properties of phenylbutyric acid, showing that phenylbutyric acid can promote growth arrest and apoptosis of cancer cells. It is suggested that phenylbutyric acid can act as an ammonia scavenger, chemical chaperone, and histone deacetylase inhibitor.1

Mechanism of action

Sodium phenylbutyrate is the most commonly used salt used in drug products of phenylbutyric acid. Sodium phenylbutyrate is a pro-drug that rapidly metabolizes to phenylacetate.2 Phenylacetate is conjugated with phenylacetyl-CoA, which in turn combines with glutamine via acetylation to form phenylacetylglutamine. Phenylacetylglutamine is then excreted by the kidneys, thus providing an alternate mechanism of waste nitrogen excretion to the urea cycle.4 Phenylacetylglutamine is comparable to urea, as each molecule contains two moles of nitrogen.2

TargetActionsOrganism
UAromatic-amino-acid aminotransferaseNot AvailableParacoccus denitrificans
UHistone deacetylase
inhibitor
Humans
Absorption

Following oral administration of a single 5g dose of sodium phenylbutyrate, the Cmax was 195-218 µg/mL under fasting conditions and the Tmax was one hour. The effect of food on drug absorption is unknown.2

Volume of distribution

Not Available

Protein binding

When co-administered with tauroursodeoxycholic acid as a combination product, the in vitro plasma protein binding of phenylbutyric acid is 82%.3

Metabolism

The major sites for metabolism of sodium phenylbutyrate are the liver and kidney.2 Phenylbutyric acid is rapidly metabolized to phenylacetate via beta-oxidation. Phenylacetate is conjugated with phenylacetyl-CoA, which in turn combines with glutamine via acetylation to form phenylacetylglutamine.4

Hover over products below to view reaction partners

Route of elimination

Approximately 80–100% of the dose was excreted by the kidneys within 24 hours as the conjugation product, phenylacetylglutamine. For each gram of sodium phenylbutyrate administered, it is estimated that between 0.12–0.15 grams of phenylacetylglutamine nitrogen are produced.2

Half-life

Following oral administration of a single 5g dose of sodium phenylbutyrate, the elimination half-life of phenylbutyric acid ranged from 0.76 to 0.77 hours.2

Clearance

Not Available

Adverse Effects
Improve decision support & research outcomes
With structured adverse effects data, including: blackbox warnings, adverse reactions, warning & precautions, & incidence rates. View sample adverse effects data in our new Data Library!
See the data
Improve decision support & research outcomes with our structured adverse effects data.
See a data sample
Toxicity

In animals, lethality was seen at a dose of 1586 mg/kg sodium phenylbutyrate; however, this is a supra-therapeutic dose and acute toxicity is unlikely.4 No adverse experiences have been reported involving overdoses of sodium phenylbutyrate in patients with urea cycle disorders. High levels of phenylacetate, the active metabolite of phenylbutyric acid, can cause nausea, headache, emesis, fatigue, weakness, lethargy, somnolence, dizziness, slurred speech, memory loss, confusion, and disorientation.3

In the event of an overdose, discontinue the drug and institute supportive measures. Hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis may be beneficial.2 Animal studies in the scientific literature have demonstrated the embryo-fetal toxicity potential of phenylacetate, the major metabolite of phenylbutyrate.3

Pathways
Not Available
Pharmacogenomic Effects/ADRs
Not Available

Interactions

Drug Interactions
This information should not be interpreted without the help of a healthcare provider. If you believe you are experiencing an interaction, contact a healthcare provider immediately. The absence of an interaction does not necessarily mean no interactions exist.
DrugInteraction
AcebutololThe metabolism of Acebutolol can be decreased when combined with Phenylbutyric acid.
AcetaminophenThe metabolism of Acetaminophen can be decreased when combined with Phenylbutyric acid.
AlmotriptanThe metabolism of Almotriptan can be decreased when combined with Phenylbutyric acid.
AlogliptinThe metabolism of Alogliptin can be decreased when combined with Phenylbutyric acid.
AminophenazoneThe metabolism of Aminophenazone can be decreased when combined with Phenylbutyric acid.
Food Interactions
  • Take with food. The effect of food on phenylbutyrate’s absorption is unknown.

Products

Drug product information from 10+ global regions
Our datasets provide approved product information including:
dosage, form, labeller, route of administration, and marketing period.
Access now
Access drug product information from over 10 global regions.
Access now
Product Ingredients
IngredientUNIICASInChI Key
Sodium phenylbutyrateNT6K61736T1716-12-7VPZRWNZGLKXFOE-UHFFFAOYSA-M
Product Images
International/Other Brands
triButyrate (Fyrlklövern Scandinavia)
Brand Name Prescription Products
NameDosageStrengthRouteLabellerMarketing StartMarketing EndRegionImage
AmmonapsGranule940 mg/gOralImmedica Pharma Ab2016-09-07Not applicableEU flag
AmmonapsTablet500 mgOralImmedica Pharma Ab2016-09-07Not applicableEU flag
AmmonapsGranule940 mg/gOralImmedica Pharma Ab2016-09-07Not applicableEU flag
AmmonapsTablet500 mgOralImmedica Pharma Ab2016-09-07Not applicableEU flag
BuphenylTablet500 mg/1OralHorizon Therapeutics USA, Inc.1996-05-13Not applicableUS flag
Generic Prescription Products
NameDosageStrengthRouteLabellerMarketing StartMarketing EndRegionImage
Sodium PhenylbutyrateTablet500 mg/1OralGlenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA2022-11-01Not applicableUS flag
Sodium PhenylbutyratePowder0.94 g/1gOralSigmapharm Laboratories, LLC2013-04-08Not applicableUS flag
Sodium PhenylbutyrateTablet500 mg/1OralMikart, LLC2011-11-182011-11-19US flag
Sodium PhenylbutyratePowder0.94 g/1gOralPar Pharmaceutical, Inc.2016-08-31Not applicableUS flag
Sodium PhenylbutyrateTablet500 mg/1OralPar Pharmaceutical, Inc.2016-04-29Not applicableUS flag
Mixture Products
NameIngredientsDosageRouteLabellerMarketing StartMarketing EndRegionImage
AlbriozaSodium phenylbutyrate (3 g / sachet) + Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (1 g / sachet)Powder, for suspensionOralAmylyx Pharmaceuticals Inc.2022-07-29Not applicableCanada flag
OlpruvaSodium phenylbutyrate (3 g/1) + Sodium phenylbutyrate (3.67 g/1)KitOralAcer Therapeutics Inc.2022-12-22Not applicableUS flag
OlpruvaSodium phenylbutyrate (2 g/1) + Sodium phenylbutyrate (3 g/1)KitOralAcer Therapeutics Inc.2022-12-22Not applicableUS flag
OlpruvaSodium phenylbutyrate (3 g/1) + Sodium phenylbutyrate (3.67 g/1)KitOralAcer Therapeutics Inc.2022-12-22Not applicableUS flag
OlpruvaSodium phenylbutyrate (2 g/1) + Sodium phenylbutyrate (3 g/1)KitOralAcer Therapeutics Inc.2022-12-22Not applicableUS flag

Categories

ATC Codes
A16AX03 — Sodium phenylbutyrate
Drug Categories
Chemical TaxonomyProvided by Classyfire
Description
This compound belongs to the class of organic compounds known as benzene and substituted derivatives. These are aromatic compounds containing one monocyclic ring system consisting of benzene.
Kingdom
Organic compounds
Super Class
Benzenoids
Class
Benzene and substituted derivatives
Sub Class
Not Available
Direct Parent
Benzene and substituted derivatives
Alternative Parents
Monocarboxylic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids / Organic oxides / Hydrocarbon derivatives / Carbonyl compounds
Substituents
Aromatic homomonocyclic compound / Carbonyl group / Carboxylic acid / Carboxylic acid derivative / Hydrocarbon derivative / Monocarboxylic acid or derivatives / Monocyclic benzene moiety / Organic oxide / Organic oxygen compound / Organooxygen compound
Molecular Framework
Aromatic homomonocyclic compounds
External Descriptors
monocarboxylic acid (CHEBI:41500)
Affected organisms
Not Available

Chemical Identifiers

UNII
7WY7YBI87E
CAS number
1821-12-1
InChI Key
OBKXEAXTFZPCHS-UHFFFAOYSA-N
InChI
InChI=1S/C10H12O2/c11-10(12)8-4-7-9-5-2-1-3-6-9/h1-3,5-6H,4,7-8H2,(H,11,12)
IUPAC Name
4-phenylbutanoic acid
SMILES
OC(=O)CCCC1=CC=CC=C1

References

General References
  1. Kusaczuk M, Bartoszewicz M, Cechowska-Pasko M: Phenylbutyric Acid: simple structure - multiple effects. Curr Pharm Des. 2015;21(16):2147-66. doi: 10.2174/1381612821666150105160059. [Article]
  2. FDA Approved Drug Products: BUPHENYL (sodium phenylbutyrate) Tablets or Powder, for oral administration [Link]
  3. Health Canada Approved Drug Products: ALBRIOZA (sodium phenylbutyrate and ursodoxicoltaurine) Oral Powder for suspension [Link]
  4. EMA Assessment Report: Pheburane (sodium phenylbutyrate) [Link]
  5. FDA Approved Drug Products: RELYVRIO (sodium phenylbutyrate and taurursodiol) for oral suspension [Link]
Human Metabolome Database
HMDB0000543
KEGG Drug
D05868
PubChem Compound
4775
PubChem Substance
310264895
ChemSpider
4611
BindingDB
50480960
RxNav
1546447
ChEBI
41500
ChEMBL
CHEMBL1469
ZINC
ZINC000000056568
PDBe Ligand
CLT
RxList
RxList Drug Page
Drugs.com
Drugs.com Drug Page
Wikipedia
Sodium_phenylbutyrate
PDB Entries
2ay7 / 3tz2 / 3tz5 / 5vnl / 5vnm / 5vnn / 5yoq

Clinical Trials

Clinical Trials
PhaseStatusPurposeConditionsCount
4CompletedHealth Services ResearchDiabetes / Resistance, Insulin1
4CompletedTreatmentDisorders of urea cycle metabolism1
4Not Yet RecruitingTreatmentType 2 Diabetes Mellitus1
3Active Not RecruitingTreatmentAmyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)1
3CompletedTreatmentDisorders of urea cycle metabolism1

Pharmacoeconomics

Manufacturers
Not Available
Packagers
Not Available
Dosage Forms
FormRouteStrength
Powder, for suspensionOral
GranuleOral940 MG/G
TabletOral500 MG
PowderOral0.94 g/1g
TabletOral500 mg/1
TabletOral500.000 mg
GranuleNot applicable869.6 g/1kg
KitOral
KitOral2 g/1
KitOral3 g/1
GranuleOral483 mg / g
GranuleOral483 MG/G
Kit; pelletOral483 mg/1g
PelletOral483 mg/1g
GranuleOral48.3 g
Prices
Not Available
Patents
Patent NumberPediatric ExtensionApprovedExpires (estimated)Region
US10857162No2020-12-082033-12-24US flag
US10251896No2019-04-092033-12-24US flag
US9872865No2018-01-232033-12-24US flag
US11071742No2021-07-272033-12-24US flag
US11202767No2021-12-212036-10-17US flag
US11433041No2016-10-172036-10-17US flag
US11154521No2021-10-262036-10-17US flag
US11583542No2020-07-272040-07-27US flag

Properties

State
Solid
Experimental Properties
Not Available
Predicted Properties
PropertyValueSource
Water Solubility0.513 mg/mLALOGPS
logP2.29ALOGPS
logP2.5Chemaxon
logS-2.5ALOGPS
pKa (Strongest Acidic)4.81Chemaxon
Physiological Charge-1Chemaxon
Hydrogen Acceptor Count2Chemaxon
Hydrogen Donor Count1Chemaxon
Polar Surface Area37.3 Å2Chemaxon
Rotatable Bond Count4Chemaxon
Refractivity46.57 m3·mol-1Chemaxon
Polarizability17.99 Å3Chemaxon
Number of Rings1Chemaxon
Bioavailability1Chemaxon
Rule of FiveYesChemaxon
Ghose FilterYesChemaxon
Veber's RuleYesChemaxon
MDDR-like RuleNoChemaxon
Predicted ADMET Features
Not Available

Spectra

Mass Spec (NIST)
Not Available
Spectra
SpectrumSpectrum TypeSplash Key
Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MSPredicted GC-MSsplash10-0006-9600000000-e2844824b9414ffe6a33
GC-MS Spectrum - EI-BGC-MSsplash10-0udl-7900000000-3308656352d708576a12
MS/MS Spectrum - Quattro_QQQ 10V, NegativeLC-MS/MSsplash10-03di-4900000000-2b18919d21183949b0f0
MS/MS Spectrum - Quattro_QQQ 25V, NegativeLC-MS/MSsplash10-0006-9000000000-6e1432dc108281f8c5fb
MS/MS Spectrum - Quattro_QQQ 40V, NegativeLC-MS/MSsplash10-0006-9100000000-9477dfafb0c27b1670ab
Predicted MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Positive (Annotated)Predicted LC-MS/MSsplash10-0a4i-1900000000-5e6d935a0d0e90fe6dda
Predicted MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Negative (Annotated)Predicted LC-MS/MSsplash10-0bt9-9700000000-915156cb44fe3655be2a
Predicted MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Negative (Annotated)Predicted LC-MS/MSsplash10-0a4i-9100000000-cda686876e00c6aa32e7
Predicted MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Positive (Annotated)Predicted LC-MS/MSsplash10-0a6r-6900000000-f34aff41f083bf4d5b3c
Predicted MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Negative (Annotated)Predicted LC-MS/MSsplash10-0006-9000000000-b555398817b6493113e3
Predicted MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Positive (Annotated)Predicted LC-MS/MSsplash10-002f-9200000000-3aaeb6a17166d6262403
1H NMR Spectrum1D NMRNot Applicable
Predicted 1H NMR Spectrum1D NMRNot Applicable
Predicted 13C NMR Spectrum1D NMRNot Applicable
[1H,13C] 2D NMR Spectrum2D NMRNot Applicable
Chromatographic Properties
Collision Cross Sections (CCS)
AdductCCS Value (Å2)Source typeSource
[M-H]-140.4732102
predicted
DarkChem Lite v0.1.0
[M-H]-140.2392102
predicted
DarkChem Lite v0.1.0
[M-H]-140.6287102
predicted
DarkChem Lite v0.1.0
[M-H]-132.27556
predicted
DeepCCS 1.0 (2019)
[M+H]+135.30058
predicted
DeepCCS 1.0 (2019)
[M+Na]+144.69951
predicted
DeepCCS 1.0 (2019)

Targets

Build, predict & validate machine-learning models
Use our structured and evidence-based datasets to unlock new
insights and accelerate drug research.
Learn more
Use our structured and evidence-based datasets to unlock new insights and accelerate drug research.
Learn more
Kind
Protein
Organism
Paracoccus denitrificans
Pharmacological action
Unknown
General Function
Pyridoxal phosphate binding
Specific Function
Shows activities toward both dicarboxylic and aromatic substrates.
Gene Name
tyrB
Uniprot ID
P95468
Uniprot Name
Aromatic-amino-acid aminotransferase
Molecular Weight
42731.635 Da
References
  1. Overington JP, Al-Lazikani B, Hopkins AL: How many drug targets are there? Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2006 Dec;5(12):993-6. [Article]
  2. Imming P, Sinning C, Meyer A: Drugs, their targets and the nature and number of drug targets. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2006 Oct;5(10):821-34. [Article]
  3. Berman HM, Westbrook J, Feng Z, Gilliland G, Bhat TN, Weissig H, Shindyalov IN, Bourne PE: The Protein Data Bank. Nucleic Acids Res. 2000 Jan 1;28(1):235-42. [Article]
Kind
Protein group
Organism
Humans
Pharmacological action
Unknown
Actions
Inhibitor
General Function
Transcription regulatory region sequence-specific dna binding
Specific Function
Responsible for the deacetylation of lysine residues on the N-terminal part of the core histones (H2A, H2B, H3 and H4). Histone deacetylation gives a tag for epigenetic repression and plays an impo...

Components:
References
  1. Kouraklis G, Theocharis S: Histone deacetylase inhibitors: a novel target of anticancer therapy (review). Oncol Rep. 2006 Feb;15(2):489-94. [Article]
  2. Kouraklis G, Theocharis S: Histone deacetylase inhibitors and anticancer therapy. Curr Med Chem Anticancer Agents. 2002 Jul;2(4):477-84. doi: 10.2174/1568011023353921. [Article]
  3. Munshi A, Kurland JF, Nishikawa T, Tanaka T, Hobbs ML, Tucker SL, Ismail S, Stevens C, Meyn RE: Histone deacetylase inhibitors radiosensitize human melanoma cells by suppressing DNA repair activity. Clin Cancer Res. 2005 Jul 1;11(13):4912-22. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-04-2088. [Article]
  4. Ladiges W: The quality control theory of aging. Pathobiol Aging Age Relat Dis. 2014 May 23;4. pii: 24835. doi: 10.3402/pba.v4.24835. eCollection 2014. [Article]
  5. Chang MC, Chen YJ, Lian YC, Chang BE, Huang CC, Huang WL, Pan YH, Jeng JH: Butyrate Stimulates Histone H3 Acetylation, 8-Isoprostane Production, RANKL Expression, and Regulated Osteoprotegerin Expression/Secretion in MG-63 Osteoblastic Cells. Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Dec 17;19(12). pii: ijms19124071. doi: 10.3390/ijms19124071. [Article]

Drug created at September 14, 2010 16:21 / Updated at October 22, 2022 01:06