Nitrofurazone is a small-molecule nitrofuran antiinfective with the molecular formula C6H6N4O4 and a molecular weight of about 198.14, recorded in the ChEMBL database with a first approval year of 1945 and maximum phase 4. ChEMBL marks it for topical use and flags it as withdrawn. The WHO Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical index files it under several codes, among them D08AF01 in the nitrofuran derivatives of the antiseptics and disinfectants for the skin, P01CC02 in the nitrofuran derivatives of the antiprotozoal group, S01AX04 among the other ophthalmic antiinfectives and B05CA03 among the irrigating antiinfectives. ChEMBL lists leishmaniasis as an approved indication. It is not an entry of the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, 24th list (2025). This entry records classification and approval facts only and is not medical advice.
Facts
Classification
Approval Status ATC ClassB: Blood and Blood Forming Organs 2 ATC ClassP: Antiparasitic Products, Insecticides and Repellents 2 Route of Administration First Approved / Isolated Year Connections
Treats
Source ChEMBL, EMBL-EBI: Nitrofurazone approved indications (ChEMBL)
Sources
1. Nitrofurazone (ChEMBL molecule record)
ChEMBL molecule record, first_approval
"first_approval": 1945
ChEMBL molecule record, withdrawn_flag
"withdrawn_flag": true
ChEMBL molecule record, topical flag
"topical": true
View the Source2. RxNav RxClass, National Library of Medicine: RxClass ATC classes of Nitrofurazone
RxNav RxClass, National Library of MedicineRxClass ATC class of the drug (levels 1 to 4); ATC class derived from cited code B05CA (main group B)
"classId": "B05CA", "className": "Antiinfectives", "classType": "ATC1-4"
RxClass ATC class of the drug (levels 1 to 4); ATC class derived from cited code D08AF (main group D)
"classId": "D08AF", "className": "Nitrofuran derivatives", "classType": "ATC1-4"
RxClass ATC class of the drug (levels 1 to 4); ATC class derived from cited code P01CC (main group P)
"classId": "P01CC", "className": "Nitrofuran derivatives", "classType": "ATC1-4"
RxClass ATC class of the drug (levels 1 to 4); ATC class derived from cited code S01AX (main group S)
"classId": "S01AX", "className": "Other antiinfectives", "classType": "ATC1-4"
View the Source ChEMBL, EMBL-EBI: Nitrofurazone approved indications (ChEMBL)
ChEMBL, EMBL-EBITreats: Leishmaniasis, drug_indication record, maximum phase 4, MeSH heading LeishmaniasisQuote, Treats: Leishmaniasis, drug_indication record, maximum phase 4, MeSH heading Leishmaniasis
"max_phase_for_ind": "4.0", "mesh_heading": "Leishmaniasis", "molecule_chembl_id": "CHEMBL869"
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