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Germanin: Full Drug Profile

Medically reviewed by Min Clinic Staff | Updated: January 2026

Germanin - General Information

A polyanionic compound with an unknown mechanism of action. It is used parenterally in the treatment of African trypanosomiasis and it has been used clinically with diethylcarbamazine to kill the adult Onchocerca. (From AMA Drug Evaluations Annual, 1992, p1643) It has also been shown to have potent antineoplastic properties. Germanin is manufactured by Bayer in Germany as Germanin®.

 

Pharmacology of Germanin

Not Available

 

Additional information about Germanin

Germanin Indication: For treatment of human sleeping sickness, onchocerciasis and other diseases caused by trypanosomes and worms. Mechanism Of Action: The mechanism is unknown, but the trypanocidal activity may be due to the inhibition of enzymes involved with the oxidation of reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide (NADH), which functions as a co-enzyme in many cellular reactions, such as respiration and glycolysis, in the trypanosome parasite. Germanin's action in the treatment of onchocerciasis is macrofilaricidal and partially microfilaricidal. Drug Interactions: Not Available Food Interactions: Not Available Generic Name: Suramin Synonyms: Bayer 205; SVR; Sodium suramin; Suramin sodium; Suramine; Suramine sodium Drug Category: Antinematodal Agents; Antineoplastic Agents; Trypanocidal Agents Drug Type: Small Molecule; Approved Other Brand Names containing Suramin: Germanin; Antrypol; Fourneau; Farma; Belganyl; Moranyl; Naganil; Naganin; Naganine; Naganol; Naphuride; Absorption: Poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Toxicity (Overdose): Not Available Protein Binding: Approximately 99.7% Biotransformation: Little or no metabolism Half Life: Approximately 36 to 60 days Dosage Forms of Germanin: Injection, powder, for solution Intravenous Chemical IUPAC Name: 8-[[4-methyl-3-[[3-[[3-[[2-methyl-5-[(4,6,8-trisulfonaphthalen-1-yl)carbamoyl]phenyl]carbamoyl]phenyl]carbamoylamino]benzoyl]amino]benzoyl]amino]naphthalene-1,3,5-trisulfonic acid Chemical Formula: C51H40N6O23S6 Suramin on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suramin Organisms Affected: Yeast, Molds, Trypanosomes