Skip to content
AMR Drug RepurposingSmart Screeningresearch prototype

Pyrimethamine

FDA-approved product (tablet, oral), marketed as Daraprim, Pyrimethamine.

Registered studies
50+
Lab records
9
Pathogens at ≥40%
3 of 4

Chemical structure

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

Existing / approved use

Documented · FDA, WHO, ChEMBL

Approved for

  • Malaria
  • Toxoplasmosis

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

WHO therapeutic group
Diaminopyrimidines
FDA pharmacologic class
Dihydrofolate Reductase Inhibitor Antimalarial FDA label ↗
Anti-infective classification
Classified as another kind of anti-infective (for example an antifungal, antiviral or antiparasitic medicine).WHO ATC P01BD01; WHO ATC P01BD51; FDA class Dihydrofolate Reductase Inhibitor Antimalarial

Repurposing investigation

This medicine is being investigated here for AI-predicted antimicrobial activity against E. coli, MRSA and M. tuberculosis. It was surfaced computationally for further investigation; it is not an established treatment for these infections.

AI-predicted activity

AI prediction · nothing measured
  • MRSA49.0% AI-predicted activityAt or above the ≥40% mark this site uses to surface candidates.
  • E. coli64.6% 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.
  • K. pneumoniae11.3% AI-predicted activityBelow the ≥40% mark this site uses to surface candidates.
  • M. tuberculosis54.6% AI-predicted activityAt or above the ≥40% mark this site uses to surface candidates.

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

  • E. coli: measured active in 9 of 9 lab records
Open Pyrimethamine in ChEMBL Registered studies below
Show the 9 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)

-7.1 kcal/mol

0better fit →-12

KPC-2 carbapenemase ↗ (K. pneumoniae)

-6.2 kcal/mol

0better fit →-12

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

-6.7 kcal/mol

0better fit →-12

Dihydrofolate reductase ↗ (MRSA)

-7.9 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 Pyrimethamine 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.

  • Folic Acid Supplementation in Gambian Primigravidae

    NCT00120822 · start 2002-07

    Registered record
    Registry ID
    NCT00120822
    Conditions
    Malaria
    Interventions
    Folic acid
    Study type
    INTERVENTIONAL
    Phase
    Phase 3
    Registry status
    Completed
    Start
    2002-07
    Completion
    2004-01
    Enrolment
    1,000

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

    ConditionMalaria
    InterventionFolic acid
    PhasePhase 3
    Registry statusCompleted

  • Effect of Antimalarial Treatment on Gametocyte Carriage in Asymptomatic P. Falciparum

    NCT00289250 · start 2001-05

    Registered record
    Registry ID
    NCT00289250
    Conditions
    Asymptomatic P.Falciparum Malaria
    Interventions
    Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine; Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine plus artesunate
    Study type
    INTERVENTIONAL
    Phase
    Phase 3
    Registry status
    Completed
    Start
    2001-05
    Completion
    2001-12
    Enrolment
    360

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

    ConditionAsymptomatic P.Falciparum Malaria
    InterventionSulfadoxine-pyrimethamine; Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine plus artesunate
    PhasePhase 3
    Registry statusCompleted

  • Pyrimethamine and Sulfadoxine for Treatment of Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome

    NCT00013689 · start 2001-03

    Registered record
    Registry ID
    NCT00013689
    Conditions
    Autoimmune Disease; Lymphoproliferative Disorder
    Interventions
    Fansidar (pyrimethamine and sulfadoxine)
    Study type
    INTERVENTIONAL
    Phase
    Phase 1
    Registry status
    Completed
    Start
    2001-03
    Completion
    2003-03
    Enrolment
    8

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

    ConditionAutoimmune Disease; Lymphoproliferative Disorder
    InterventionFansidar (pyrimethamine and sulfadoxine)
    PhasePhase 1
    Registry statusCompleted

  • Therapeutic Efficacy Study of Pyrimethamine/Sulfdoxine (Fansidar®) for the Treatment of Uncomplicated Falciparum Malaria in the Peruvian Amazon

    NCT00951106 · start 1998-01

    Registered record
    Registry ID
    NCT00951106
    Conditions
    Malaria, Vivax; Malaria, Falciparum
    Interventions
    Pyrimethamine/sulfdoxine (Fansidar)
    Study type
    INTERVENTIONAL
    Phase
    Not applicable
    Registry status
    Completed
    Start
    1998-01
    Completion
    2009-08
    Enrolment
    Not recorded

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

    ConditionMalaria, Vivax; Malaria, Falciparum
    InterventionPyrimethamine/sulfdoxine (Fansidar)
    PhaseNot applicable
    Registry statusCompleted

  • SP Resistance and Falciparum Malaria Transmission

    NCT00299247

    Registered record
    Registry ID
    NCT00299247
    Conditions
    Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria
    Interventions
    sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine
    Study type
    INTERVENTIONAL
    Phase
    Phase 3
    Registry status
    Withdrawn
    Start
    Not recorded
    Completion
    2006-12
    Enrolment
    0

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

    ConditionPlasmodium Falciparum Malaria
    Interventionsulfadoxine/pyrimethamine
    PhasePhase 3
    Registry statusWithdrawn