Medicines & Therapeutics

Research Overview
Status: Ongoing
Substances:
Codeine
Phenolphthalein
Emodin
Emtricitabine (FTC)
Tenofovir
2',3'-Dideoxycytidine
Oxymetholone
AZT transplacental carcinogenesis study
Endocrine disruptor (Ethinyl estradiol)
AZT+3TC+NVP combination
Phenobarbital
AZT + Pyrazinamide combination (AIDS Initiative)
Promethazine hydrochloride
Efavirenz (EFV)
AZT/Drug Combinations Transplacental Carcinogenesis Study
Interferon AD + 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AIDS Initiative)
Hydroxyurea
Salicylazosulfapyridine
Scopolamine hydrobromide trihydrate
Methylene blue trihydrate
3'-Azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AIDS)
AZT + Rifampin (AIDS Initiative)
AZT + Rifabutin (AIDS Initiative)
1-trans-delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol
Methylphenidate hydrochloride
AZT/Drug Combinations Transplacental/Neonatal Study
Triamterene
Chloral hydrate
Primidone (primaclone)
Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (TDF)
Acetaminophen (4-hydroxyacetanilide)
Pyrazinamide
Oxazepam
AZT + Isoniazid (AIDS Initiative)
Elmiron (sodium pentosanpolysulfate)
Barium chloride dihydrate
AZT + TMP/SMX (mixture) combination
5,5-Diphenylhydantoin (phenytoin)
Tricombination FTC:TDF:EFV (1:1.5:3)
Simvastatin
Fenofibrate
Background Information
Medicines and therapeutics are substances used in the treatment of illnesses or symptoms. They are available to individuals through physician prescriptions and over the counter.
Medicines and therapeutics may be found in many forms, such as tablets, capsules, softgels, gelcaps, liquids, or powders. Botanical dietary supplements are not included with medicines and therapeutics.
NTP has received a number of requests to study medicines and therapeutics from the public and several federal agencies. People are concerned about their safety. Manufacturers who want to distribute a medicine or therapeutic must receive approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration before putting it on the market. However, not all effects may be apparent during clinical testing. There may be:
- Additional indications for the medicine
- Off-label uses
- Side effects that may be deemed a necessary risk because the overall effect significantly improves an illness or disease
- Side effects that are only noted in a certain subpopulation
For these reasons, NTP is studying select medicines and therapeutics to identify potential harm from short-term and long-term exposure.
NTP Studies & Findings
NTP is conducting numerous studies in rodents to identify potential harm from short-term and long-term exposure to select medicines and therapeutics. These studies will provide toxicology data that can be used by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, National Institutes of Health, public, and other stakeholders. The data will help in evaluating the safety of certain medicines and therapeutics.
The following tables list ongoing and completed NTP studies on medicines and therapeutics. The Testing Status column includes links to the testing status page and any available reports or updates.
Medicine/Therapeutic | Commonly Used For | Testing Status |
---|---|---|
Azidothymidine (AZT) drug combinations, transplacental/carcinogenesis study | Treatment of HIV-AIDS | Ongoing |
Azidothymidine (AZT) drug combinations, transplacental/neonatal study | Treatment of HIV-AIDS | Ongoing |
2',3'-Dideoxycytidine | Treatment of HIV-AIDS | Ongoing |
Efavirenz (EFV) | Treatment of HIV-AIDS | Ongoing |
Efavirenz (EFV), Emtricitabine (FTC), Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (TDF) combination | Treatment of HIV-AIDS | Ongoing |
Emtricitabine (FTC) | Treatment of HIV-AIDS | Ongoing |
Ethinyl estradiol | Treatment of breast and prostate cancer | Ongoing |
Fenofibrate | Reduce cholesterol and triglycerides | Ongoing |
Hydroxyurea | Chemotherapeutic agent | Ongoing |
Phenobarbital | Anticonvulsant, hypnotic, sedative | Ongoing |
Simvastatin | Cholesterol-lowering medication that blocks the production of cholesterol | Ongoing |
Tenofovir | Treatment of HIV-AIDS | Ongoing |
Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarte (TDF) | Treatment of HIV-AIDS | Ongoing |
Medicine/Therapeutic | Commonly Used For | Testing Status |
---|---|---|
Acetaminophen | Pain relief | Completed |
3’-Azido-3’-deoxythymidine (AZT) | Treatment of HIV-AIDS | Completed |
3’-Azido-3’-deoxythymidine (AZT), transplacental carcinogenesis study | Treatment of HIV-AIDS | Completed |
3’-Azido-3’-deoxythymidine and Isoiazid Combinations (AZT) | Treatment of HIV-AIDS | Completed |
3’-Azido-3’-deoxythymidine (AZT), Lamivudine (3TC), Nevirapine (NVPT) | Treatment of HIV-AIDS | Completed |
3’-Azido-3’-deoxythymidine (AZT) + Pyrazinamide combination | Treatment of HIV-AIDS | Completed |
3’-Azido-3’-deoxythymidine (AZT) + Rifabutin | Treatment of HIV-AIDS | Completed |
3’-Azido-3’-deoxythymidine (AZT) + Rifampin | Treatment of HIV-AIDS | Completed |
3’-Azido-3’-deoxythymidine (AZT) + Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole | Treatment of HIV-AIDS | Completed |
Barium chloride dihydrate | Cardiac stimulant | Completed |
Chloral hydrate | Sedative | Completed |
Codeine | Pain relief and sedatives | Completed |
5,5-Diphenylhydantoin | Antiepileptic and antiarrhythmic drug | Completed |
Elmiron | Prevention of thrombosis and hyperlipidemia in foreign countries and for the treatment of interstitial cystitis in the U.S. | Completed |
Emodin | Laxative | Completed |
Interferon | Treatment of HIV-AIDS | Completed |
Methylene blue trihydrate | Antihemoglobinemic, cyanine poisoning antidote | Completed |
Methylphenidate hydrochloride | Treatment of narcolepsy | Completed |
Oxazepam | Sedative-hypnotic and antianxiety agent | Completed |
Oxymetholone | Promote weight gain | Completed |
Phenolphthalein | Laxative | Completed |
Primidone | Management of partial grand mal and psychomotor seizures | Completed |
Promethazine hydrochloride | Antihistamine | Completed |
Pyrazinamide | Treatment of HIV-AIDS | Completed |
Salicylazosulfapyridine | Treatment of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease | Completed |
Scopolamine hydrobromide trihydrate | Sedative and treatment of motion sickness | Completed |
1-trans-delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol | Topical use in hypertensive glaucomas | Completed |
Triamterene | Diuretic | Completed |
Informational Resources
Resources From Other Organizations
- Drug Information for Consumers – U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- AIDS Treatment and Care – World Health Organization
- DailyMed – NIH U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Drug Information Portal – NIH U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Medline Plus – NIH U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Medication Safety Program – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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