Mechanism of Action: Metal Chelating Activity

Drugs with Mechanism of Action: Metal Chelating Activity

Applicant	Tradename	Generic Name	Dosage	NDA	Approval Date	TE	Type	RLD	RS	Patent No.	Patent Expiration	Product	Substance	Delist Req.	Exclusivity Expiration
Msn	TRIENTINE HYDROCHLORIDE	trientine hydrochloride	CAPSULE;ORAL	211134-001	May 22, 2019	AB	RX	No	No
Navinta Llc	TRIENTINE HYDROCHLORIDE	trientine hydrochloride	CAPSULE;ORAL	211251-001	Jan 16, 2019	AB	RX	No	No
Rising	TRIENTINE HYDROCHLORIDE	trientine hydrochloride	CAPSULE;ORAL	212238-001	Feb 20, 2020	AB	RX	No	No
Watson Labs Teva	TRIENTINE HYDROCHLORIDE	trientine hydrochloride	CAPSULE;ORAL	207567-001	Feb 7, 2018	AB	RX	No	No
Zydus Pharms	TRIENTINE HYDROCHLORIDE	trientine hydrochloride	CAPSULE;ORAL	211554-001	Apr 26, 2019	AB	RX	No	No

Metal Chelating Activity Market Analysis and Financial Projection

The market for drugs with metal chelating activity is expanding rapidly, driven by therapeutic innovations and industrial demand. Below is an analysis of the market dynamics and patent landscape shaping this sector.

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Market Dynamics

Growth Projections and Drivers
The global chelating agents market is projected to grow from $8.2B in 2025 to $14.5B by 2035 (CAGR: 5.8%)[13], with key drivers including:

• Water treatment needs: Rising industrialization amplifies demand for metal ion sequestration in purification systems[5][13].
• Pharmaceutical applications: Biodegradable chelators for drug stability and bioavailability enhancements are the fastest-growing segment[9][11].
• Sustainability trends: Eco-friendly chelators like glutamic acid derivatives are replacing traditional agents (e.g., EDTA) due to regulatory pressures[9][13].

Sector Breakdown (2025)	Growth Drivers
Water treatment (Dominant)	Pollution control, scaling prevention
Pharmaceuticals (Fastest-growing)	Iron chelation therapies, antimicrobial applications
Agriculture	Micronutrient delivery for crop yields

Therapeutic Applications

• Iron overload disorders: The iron chelation therapy market (valued at $758M in 2023) is expected to reach $1.1B by 2030 (CAGR: 6.3%), led by deferasirox and deferiprone formulations[11].
• Infectious diseases: Novel agents like Fe Pharmaceuticals’ DIBI inhibit microbial iron uptake, offering antibiotic-free solutions for resistant pathogens[8][10][15].
• Neurodegeneration: Metal-chelating antioxidants (e.g., PBT2) mitigate Alzheimer’s progression by reducing oxidative stress[6][7].

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Patent Landscape

Key Innovations
Recent patents highlight advancements in:

1. Drug delivery systems:
   • Dextran-chelator complexes for MRI contrast agents (Navidea Biopharmaceuticals)[1].
   • Siderocalin-based platforms for targeted radionuclide delivery in cancer imaging[17].
2. Antimicrobials:
   • Polymeric iron chelators (e.g., DIBI) that starve pathogens of essential metals without inducing resistance[8][10][15].
3. Heavy metal detoxification:
   • Glucose-cysteine derivatives for oral lead/cadmium removal (Patent: US6306837)[3].

Leading Patent Holders	Company/Institution	Key Patents	Applications
Fe Pharmaceuticals	US12024490, US10709784	Infection control, cancer[8][10][15]
Navidea Biopharmaceuticals	US11859023B2	Diagnostic imaging[1]
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center	US11235076	Radiopharmaceutical delivery[17]

Emerging Trends

• Multifunctional chelators: Compounds like 8-hydroxyquinoline derivatives act as metal ionophores to restore neuronal metal homeostasis[7].
• Combo therapies: Chelators enhance conventional treatments (e.g., DIBI with antibiotics)[10][15].
• Environmental compliance: 43% of new patents focus on biodegradable formulations to meet EPA/REACH standards[9][13].

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Future Outlook

The intersection of precision medicine and sustainable chemistry is reshaping the sector. Over 40% of existing drugs exhibit unintended metal chelation properties[12], suggesting untapped potential for repurposing. Innovations will likely target:

• Theranostic chelators for simultaneous imaging/therapy[17].
• AI-driven design of metal-selective agents to minimize off-target effects[4].

"DIBI’s polymeric iron chelation represents a paradigm shift—starving pathogens without triggering resistance." – Fe Pharmaceuticals[10].

As regulatory frameworks tighten, companies prioritizing green chemistry and combination therapies will dominate this $15B+ frontier[9][13].

References

1. https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/data-insights/navidea-biopharmaceuticals-gets-grant-for-method-for-conjugating-metal-chelating-agent-to-functionalized-dextran/
2. https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/chelating-agent-market/market-analysis
3. https://patents.justia.com/patents-by-us-classification/514/836
4. https://lifechemicals.com/blog/computational-chemistry/368-metal-chelation-in-enzyme-active-sites-for-drug-discovery
5. https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/chelating-agents-market
6. https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/7/2499
7. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/cr400460s
8. https://fe-pharma.reportablenews.com/pr/fe-pharmaceuticals-announces-issuance-of-new-u-s-patent-for-its-lead-product-dibi
9. https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/chelating-agents-market.asp
10. https://fepharm.com/post/fe-pharmaceuticals-announces-issuance-of-new-u-s-patent-for-its-lead-product-dibi
11. https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-8W13226/global-iron-chelation-therapy
12. https://ods.od.nih.gov/attachments/Meeting%20report.doc
13. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/02/21/3030277/0/en/Global-Chelating-Agent-Market-to-Reach-USD-14-452-3-million-by-2035-at-5-8-CAGR-Driven-by-Water-Treatment-Industrial-Demand-Future-Market-Insights-Inc.html
14. https://www.biospace.com/thalassemia-treatment-market-chelation-therapy-to-be-highly-lucrative-segment
15. https://fepharm.com/post/issuance-of-u-s-patent
16. https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2004069801A1/en
17. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1892574
18. https://patents.google.com/patent/US10343143B2/en