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Trimethoprim

FDA-approved product (tablet, oral), marketed as Proloprim, Trimethoprim, Trimpex and 2 more.

Registered studies
50+
Lab records
56
Pathogens at ≥40%
3 of 4

Chemical structure

Chemical structure of Trimethoprim
A drawing shows what the molecule is, not what it does.

Existing / approved use

Documented · FDA, WHO, ChEMBL

Approved for

  • Bacterial disease
  • Infection
  • Otitis media
  • Pneumocystosis
  • Urinary tract infection

Indications ChEMBL records as approved, from FDA and DailyMed labels. Label ↗

WHO therapeutic group
Trimethoprim and derivatives
FDA pharmacologic class
Dihydrofolate Reductase Inhibitor Antibacterial FDA label ↗
Anti-infective classification
Classified as an existing antimicrobial.WHO ATC J01EA01; FDA class Dihydrofolate Reductase Inhibitor Antibacterial

Repurposing investigation

Trimethoprim is already an antimicrobial, so it is not counted among the repurposing candidates. Its AI-predicted activity is shown below for reference.

AI-predicted activity

AI prediction · nothing measured
  • MRSA79.2% AI-predicted activityAt or above the ≥40% mark this site uses to surface candidates. This medicine was in the model's training data, so this is recall, not a new prediction.
  • E. coli>99% AI-predicted activityAt or above the ≥40% mark this site uses to surface candidates. This medicine was in the model's training data, so this is recall, not a new prediction.
  • K. pneumoniae76.6% AI-predicted activityAt or above the ≥40% mark this site uses to surface candidates. This medicine was in the model's training data, so this is recall, not a new prediction.
  • M. tuberculosis9.6% AI-predicted activityBelow the ≥40% mark this site uses to surface candidates. This medicine was in the model's training data, so this is recall, not a new prediction.

A model’s estimate of laboratory activity against each pathogen species. It is not clinical effectiveness.

Evidence

Clinical and experimental

Documented evidence

Clinical

50+registered studies name this medicine, for any condition. The registry search keeps the first 50, so there may be more. See them below.

Experimental

  • MRSA: measured active in 7 of 8 lab records
  • E. coli: measured active in 32 of 33 lab records
  • K. pneumoniae: measured active in 7 of 12 lab records
  • M. tuberculosis: measured active in 0 of 3 lab records
Show the 56 laboratory records, with sources

Loading records…

“Active” means the measured value reached this project’s laboratory cutoff (10 µM or stronger). A laboratory result does not show an effect in patients.

Docking

Computational · nothing measured

Dihydrofolate reductase ↗ (E. coli)

-7.4 kcal/mol

0better fit →-12

KPC-2 carbapenemase ↗ (K. pneumoniae)

-7.4 kcal/mol

0better fit →-12

Enoyl-ACP reductase (InhA) ↗ (M. tuberculosis)

-6.1 kcal/mol

0better fit →-12

Dihydrofolate reductase ↗ (MRSA)

-7.2 kcal/mol

0better fit →-12

AutoDock Vina, one experimentally solved protein per pathogen. This project’s screening target is -7.0 kcal/mol, its own mark rather than a universal cutoff. A docking score is a structural hypothesis, not proof of binding, and requires experimental validation.

Other medicines to investigate

AI prediction · nothing measured

Other repurposing candidates: approved medicines besides Trimethoprim with AI-predicted activity ≥40% against the chosen pathogen, leaving out existing antimicrobials. They are computational candidates for further investigation, not alternatives and not recommendations.

Sorted by AI-predicted activity, high to low. The order is not a ranking of which medicine is better.

Registered studies

A registration describes a study; it does not establish a positive result.

  • The Effects of Polymyxin-B Protects on Sepsis Induced Kidney Dysfunction: a Randomized Clinical Trial

    NCT00490477 · start 2006-05

    Registered record
    Registry ID
    NCT00490477
    Conditions
    Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections; Sepsis
    Interventions
    Polymyxin -B fiber hemoperfusion system
    Study type
    INTERVENTIONAL
    Phase
    Phase 3
    Registry status
    Completed
    Start
    2006-05
    Completion
    2007-12
    Enrolment
    16

    As stored from ClinicalTrials.gov. Registration describes a study; it does not mean the study worked.

    ConditionGram-Negative Bacterial Infections; Sepsis
    InterventionPolymyxin -B fiber hemoperfusion system
    PhasePhase 3
    Registry statusCompleted
  • Use of Amnion on Partial Thickness Burns

    NCT00674999 · start 2005-06

    Registered record
    Registry ID
    NCT00674999
    Conditions
    Burn
    Interventions
    Amnion; Amnion; Polysporin/Bacitracin/Mycostatin
    Study type
    INTERVENTIONAL
    Phase
    Phase 2 / Phase 3
    Registry status
    Withdrawn
    Start
    2005-06
    Completion
    2008-09
    Enrolment
    0

    As stored from ClinicalTrials.gov. Registration describes a study; it does not mean the study worked.

    ConditionBurn
    InterventionAmnion; Amnion; Polysporin/Bacitracin/Mycostatin
    PhasePhase 2 / Phase 3
    Registry statusWithdrawn
  • Treatment of Acyclovir-Resistant Mucocutaneous Herpes Simplex Disease in Patients With AIDS: Open Label Pilot Study of Topical Trifluridine

    NCT00000635

    Registered record
    Registry ID
    NCT00000635
    Conditions
    Herpes Simplex; HIV Infections
    Interventions
    Trifluridine; Bacitracin zinc/Polymyxin B sulfate
    Study type
    INTERVENTIONAL
    Phase
    Not applicable
    Registry status
    Completed
    Start
    Not recorded
    Completion
    1992-04
    Enrolment
    25

    As stored from ClinicalTrials.gov. Registration describes a study; it does not mean the study worked.

    ConditionHerpes Simplex; HIV Infections
    InterventionTrifluridine; Bacitracin zinc/Polymyxin B sulfate
    PhaseNot applicable
    Registry statusCompleted
  • Open-label Evaluation of Polymyxin B Hemoperfusion for Septic Shock

    NCT02825329

    Registered record
    Registry ID
    NCT02825329
    Conditions
    Septic Shock; Endotoxemia
    Interventions
    TORAYMYXIN PMX-20R
    Study type
    EXPANDED_ACCESS
    Phase
    Not recorded
    Registry status
    Temporarily not available
    Start
    Not recorded
    Completion
    Not recorded
    Enrolment
    Not recorded

    As stored from ClinicalTrials.gov. Registration describes a study; it does not mean the study worked.

    ConditionSeptic Shock; Endotoxemia
    InterventionTORAYMYXIN PMX-20R
    PhaseNot recorded
    Registry statusTemporarily not available
  • Evaluating the Use of Polymyxin B Cartridge Hemoperfusion for Patients With Septic Shock and COVID 19

    NCT04352985

    Registered record
    Registry ID
    NCT04352985
    Conditions
    Septic Shock; Endotoxemia; COVID; Corona Virus Infection; Sepsis, Severe
    Interventions
    Toraymyxin PMX-20R (PMX Cartridge)
    Study type
    EXPANDED_ACCESS
    Phase
    Not recorded
    Registry status
    No longer available
    Start
    Not recorded
    Completion
    Not recorded
    Enrolment
    Not recorded

    As stored from ClinicalTrials.gov. Registration describes a study; it does not mean the study worked.

    ConditionSeptic Shock; Endotoxemia; COVID; Corona Virus Infection +1 more
    InterventionToraymyxin PMX-20R (PMX Cartridge)
    PhaseNot recorded
    Registry statusNo longer available