Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)(CellCept® by Roche) is a immunosupressant and prodrug of mycophenolic acid, used extensively in transplant medicine. Its mode of action is as a reversible inhibitor of Inositol monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) in purine biosynthesis. MMF is selective for the de novo pathway critical to lymphocytic proliferation and activation. Other cells are able to recover purines via a separate, scavenger, pathway and are thus able to escape the effect. It is a useful alternative to azathioprine when Aza toxicity precludes use.
The chemical name for mycophenolate mofetil is 2-morpholinoethyl (E)-6-(1,3-dihydro-4-hydroxy-6-methoxy-7-methyl-3-oxo-5-isobenzofuranyl)-4-methyl-4-hexenoate. Its empirical formula is C23H31NO7 and molecular weight 433.50. Mycophenolate mofetil is morpholinoethyl ester of mycophenolic acid, which is used to mask the carboxyl group. Mycophenolate mofetil is reported to have pKa values 5.6 for the morpholino moiety and 8.5 for the phenolic group. [1]
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