Synthesizing and Cost Evaluating Tiopronin
Session Number
Project ID: MEDH 35
Advisor(s)
Dr. John Thurmond, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
Discipline
Medical and Health Sciences
Start Date
20-4-2022 9:10 AM
End Date
20-4-2022 9:25 AM
Abstract
Tiopronin is a prescription thiol drug used as medication to treat severe homozygous cystinuria. Although not an immediate threat it contains the risk of the formation of kidney stones. Tiopronin is used as a second-line therapy to control the rate of cysteine precipitation and excretion. The price of tiopronin has recently exploded from $1.50 to $30 per pill, a 1,900% increase in cost. The intent of our project is to make this drug for ourselves, and cost evaluate it to see if the price charged by pharmaceutical companies is fair. By following the instructions of a pre-existing patent, we conducted various steps to synthesize this drug. After distilling the solution, combining it with other chemical compounds, the 2- chloropropionic acid ended as an organic material. The NMR shows similarities between tiopronin and the organic material we made. Our findings indicate that tiopronin cost $2.38 to make 100 mg, a substantial decrease from the $30 per 100mg.
Synthesizing and Cost Evaluating Tiopronin
Tiopronin is a prescription thiol drug used as medication to treat severe homozygous cystinuria. Although not an immediate threat it contains the risk of the formation of kidney stones. Tiopronin is used as a second-line therapy to control the rate of cysteine precipitation and excretion. The price of tiopronin has recently exploded from $1.50 to $30 per pill, a 1,900% increase in cost. The intent of our project is to make this drug for ourselves, and cost evaluate it to see if the price charged by pharmaceutical companies is fair. By following the instructions of a pre-existing patent, we conducted various steps to synthesize this drug. After distilling the solution, combining it with other chemical compounds, the 2- chloropropionic acid ended as an organic material. The NMR shows similarities between tiopronin and the organic material we made. Our findings indicate that tiopronin cost $2.38 to make 100 mg, a substantial decrease from the $30 per 100mg.