Drug Database
DI

dichlorphenamide (Ormalvi)

✓ Approved

Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited · Small Molecule · Small Molecule

What is dichlorphenamide?

dichlorphenamide is a small molecule developed by Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited. It is approved for therapeutic indications via oral (po).

Drug Profile

Brand NamesOrmalvi
CompanyTorrent Pharmaceuticals Limited
Drug ClassSmall Molecule
RouteOral (PO)
StatusApproved
Sources: ClinicalTrials.gov, Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited

Therapeutic Indications

dichlorphenamide is developed for 1 unique indication across 1 therapeutic area.

Therapeutic AreaConditionPhase
Congenital, familial and genetic disordersFamilial periodic paralysis✓ Approved

Related Research Articles

PubMedCase reports in genetics2026-01-19

Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis Associated With a Rare CACNA1S Variant (p.Leu1243Val): Expanding the Mutational Spectrum.

Nader Mark Abi MA

Hypokalemic periodic paralysis (HypoPP) is a rare skeletal muscle channelopathy, most often caused by mutations in CACNA1S or SCN4A. Most pathogenic CACNA1S mutations affect arginine residues in S4 voltage-sensor domains, but other variants remain poorly understood. I describe a 30-year-old Caucasian woman with recurrent paralytic episodes and hypokalemia (2.1-2.3 mmol/L), triggered by stress and carbohydrate-rich meals. Genetic testing revealed heterozygosity for CACNA1S c.3727C  >  G (p.Leu1243Val), a variant of uncertain significance not previously associated with pathogenicity. Her phenotype was consistent with HypoPP. Treatment with spironolactone and acetazolamide reduced episode frequency, although the latter caused intolerable side effects, particularly tachypnea; she was later approved for dichlorphenamide. During one hospitalization, she also developed transient hypophosphatemia and hypokalemia, consistent with her HypoPP picture. Kidney function and imaging were normal. Family history revealed electrolyte disturbances in her grandfather. This case highlights a possible genotype-phenotype link involving CACNA1S p.Leu1243Val. Continued reporting of such cases is essential for variant reclassification and for improving recognition of metabolic shifts during HypoPP attacks.

PMID 41551049
Read full article →
PubMedNeuromuscular disorders : NMD2025-12-11

Safety and efficacy of dichlorphenamide in patients with periodic paralysis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Haider Samna S, Siddiqui Ahmed Daud AD, Asad Muhammad M, Amjad Marium M et al.

Primary periodic paralysis (PPP) comprises inherited ion channelopathies, marked by episodic or sustained muscle weakness. Dichlorphenamide has been investigated as a treatment option, however existing studies report inconsistent and variable findings regarding its efficacy. To clarify these inconsistencies, we conducted a meta-analysis and systematic review evaluating its effectiveness in managing PPP. A comprehensive literature exploration was undertaken across multiple databases encompassing studies disseminated up to July 2025, assessing efficacy of dichlorphenamide in PPP. Primary outcomes encompassed mean changes in weekly attack frequency and severity-weighted scores. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan, reporting mean differences (MD), statistical significance was ascribed to p-values < 0.05. Evidence certainty was evaluated using the GRADE framework. Clinically significant reductions in the frequency of weekly periodic paralytic attacks were observed in both the hyperkalemic and hypokalemic subgroups (MD -1.72, P-value: 0.01), as well as across the age subgroups, adolescents and adults (MD -0.95, P-value: <0.00001). Analysis of severity-weighted attack scores also revealed significant improvements across both etiological hyperkalemic and hypokalemic categories (MD -1.37, P-value: 0.002), and age-based subgroups (MD -1.28, P-value: <0.00001). Along with therapeutic benefits, some adverse effects were also associated with dichlorphenamide, such as paresthesias (p < 0.00001), cognitive disturbances (p: 0.008), dysgeusia (p: 0.01), and rash (p: 0.006). The GRADE analysis confirmed high-certainty evidence for primary outcomes, supporting dichlorphenamide's consistent efficacy across etiologies and ages, though its side effects necessitate careful monitoring and counseling.

PMID 41371188
Read full article →
PubMedRenal failure2025-04-04

High altitude renal syndrome: four elements or one source?

Zhang Lei L, Feng Erchao E, Baima Sezhen S, Laba Cangjue C et al.

High Altitude Renal Syndrome (HARS) is a clinical syndrome characterized by polycythemia, hyperuricemia, hypertension, and albuminuria at high altitudes. This review emphasizes hypoxia-induced High Altitude Polycythemia (HAPC) as its core driver. In 2014, the 6th Qinghai International Conference on Mountain Medicine and High Altitude Physiology established international diagnostic criteria for HAPC (hemoglobin ≥210g/L in males, ≥190g/L in females). HAPC triggers systemic hypoxia, leading to hyperuricemia via uric acid overproduction and reduced renal excretion, hypertension from hemodynamic changes, and glomerular injury through erythrocytosis. Pathological mechanisms involve HIF-2α-mediated glomerular hypertrophy and podocyte damage. Treatment strategies target HAPC and downstream effects. Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (e.g., acetazolamide) reduce hematocrit and improve oxygen saturation, but newer agents like methazolamide and dichlorphenamide offer equivalent efficacy with fewer side effects (e.g., reduced central nervous system toxicity). For severe cases, descending to lower altitudes remains the gold standard. Additional interventions include calcium channel blockers (nifedipine), urate-lowering drugs, and experimental therapies such as HIF-2α inhibitors (PT2385) and endothelin receptor antagonists (matitan). This analysis underscores HAPC as the primary etiology of HARS, advocating revised diagnostic criteria and treatment prioritization.

PMID 40179941
Read full article →
PubMedInternational journal of biological macromolecules2024-04-06

Identification, crystallization, and first X-ray structure analyses of phenyl boronic acid-based inhibitors of human carbonic anhydrase-II.

Rasheed Saima S, Huda Noor Ul NU, Fisher S Zoë SZ, Falke Sven S et al.

Human carbonic anhydrases (hCAs) play a central role in various physiological processes in the human body. HCAs catalyze the reversible hydration of CO2 into HCO3-, and hence maintains the fluid and pH balance. Overexpression of CA II is associated with diseases, such as glaucoma, and epilepsy. Therefore, CAs are important clinical targets and inhibition of different isoforms, especially hCA II is used in treatment of glaucoma, altitude sickness, and epilepsy. Therapeutically used CA inhibitors (CAI) are sulfonamide-based, such as acetazolamide, dichlorphenamide, methazolamide, ethoxzolamide, etc. However, they exhibit several undesirable effects such as numbness, tingling of extremities, malaise, metallic taste, fatigue, renal calculi, and metabolic acidosis. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify safe and effective inhibitors of the hCAs. In this study, different phenyl boronic acids 1-5 were evaluated against bovine (bCA II) and hCA II. Among all, compound 1 (4-acetylphenyl boronic acid) was found to be active against bCAII and hCA II with IC50 values of 246 ± 0.48 and 281.40 ± 2.8 μM, respectively, while the remaining compounds were found in-active. Compound 1 was identified as competitive inhibitor of hCA II enzyme (Ki = 283.7 ± 0.002 μM). Additionally, compound 1 was found to be non-toxic against BJ Human fibroblast cell line. The X-ray crystal structure for hCA II in-complex with compound 1 was evaluated to a resolution of 2.6 Å. In fact, this the first structural analysis of a phenyl boron-based inhibitor bound to hCA II, allowing an additional structure-activity analysis of the compounds. Compound 1 was found to be directly bound in the active site of hCA II by interacting with His94, His119, and Thr199 residues. In addition, a bond of 3.11 Å between the zinc ion and coordinated boron atom of the boronic acid moiety of compound 1 was also observed, contributing to binding affinity of compound 1 for hCA II. PDB ID: 8IGF.

PMID 38580011
Read full article →
PubMedBioinformation2023-10-12

Exploring bioactive compounds from a symbiotic bacterial strain of Spongiobacter sp.

Bibi Fehmida F, Naseer Muhammad Imran MI, Azhar Esam Ibraheem EI

Marine sponges are a host of different symbiotic groups of bacteria playing crucial roles in the protection and survival of marine sponges. Marine symbiotic bacteria from sponges are promising sources of bioactive chemicals and are increasingly being investigated. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to analyze total compounds from active symbiotic bacterial strain from sponge, Pione vastifical. Potential bacterial strain EA276 previously isolated from P. vastifical and was identified as Spongiobacter sp. Among 57 isolates, only 42% exhibited antagonistic activity. Four major classes of bacteria were reported previously where γ-Proteobacteria, was the dominant class. From these active antagonistic bacterial isolates, a potential bacterial strain Spongiobacter sp. EA276 was selected, and total metabolites were identified using GC and LC-MS analyses. Using LC-MS analysis bioactive compounds Dichlorphenamide, Amifloxacin and Carbenicillin are identified in both positive and negative mode. Plant growth hormones, Indole-3-acetic acid and Methyl jasmonate were identified using GC-MS analysis from culture extract of strain Spongiobacter sp. EA276. Our results highlighted the significance of marine flora inhabiting sponges from the Red Sea as potential source of bioactive compounds and plant growth hormones of biological and agricultural significance.

PMID 37822833
Read full article →
PubMedArchiv der Pharmazie2023-01-05

Pyrazole/pyrazoline as an excellent pharmacophore in the design of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (2018-2022).

Dorbabu Atukuri A

Carbonic anhydrase (CA) is a metalloenzyme that catalyzes the interconversion between carbon dioxide and water and dissociated ions of carbonic acid. In addition, CA performs various other functions in animals and plants, depending on the part of the living being. CAs have been found in almost all organisms. Besides, CAs are associated with several diseases, such as glaucoma, obesity, epilepsy, cancer, and so on. CAs are also involved in tumor cell growth and angiogenesis. Thus, inhibition of CA may be an attractive way of control of such diseases. Hence, CA inhibitors have been designed and developed to cure CA-associated diseases. Some examples of approved CA inhibitors are dorzolamide, methazolamide, brinzolamide, and dichlorphenamide. Furthermore, various heterocyclic scaffolds were utilized for the design of CA inhibitors. Among those, pyrazole/pyrazoline derivatives have exhibited greater potency toward CA inhibition. Hence, research that took place in the field of drug design and discovery of CA inhibition has been systematically reviewed and collated. Alongside, the structure-activity relationship has been described, followed by a description of the most potent molecules and their structural features.

PMID 36599496
Read full article →

+94 more articles available with a free account

Sign up free to view all articles →

Ask about dichlorphenamide