Dapsone is a sulfone drug used to treat acne vulgaris, Hansen's disease, and dermatitis herpetiformis. A sulfone active against a wide range of bacteria but mainly employed for its actions against mycobacterium leprae.
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed
Dapsone acts against bacteria and protozoa in the same way as sulphonamides, that is by inhibiting the synthesis of dihydrofolic acid through competition with para-amino-benzoate for the active site of dihydropteroate synthetase. The anti-inflammatory action of the drug is unrelated to its antibacterial action and is still not fully understood.
- Primary indication
- For the treatment and management of leprosy and dermatitis herpetiformis.Curator reviewed · 13 structured indications
- Formula / weight
- C12H12N2O2S · 248.301 g/mol (avg)
- First approval
- Canada, 2018 · United States, 1979
- Also known as
- DADPS · Diaphenylsulfone
- Code names
- NSC-6091
- Brand names
Resolves to
MQJKPEGWNLWLTK-UHFFFAOYSA-NSMILESNC1=CC=C(C=C1)S(=O)(=O)C1=CC=C(N)C=C1What you can answer from here — as of September 23, 2026
Which drugs share a target with Dapsone, and which of those have an active Phase 3 trial?
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