ATC Group: J04B Drugs for treatment of lepra

The World Health Organization's ATC classification organizes medical drugs based on therapeutic properties, chemical composition, and anatomy. It helps make essential medicines readily available globally and is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry.

Position of J04B in the ATC hierarchy

Level Code Title
1 J Antiinfectives for systemic use
2 J04 Antimycobacterials
3 J04B Drugs for treatment of lepra

Group J04B contents

Code Title
J04BA Drugs for treatment of lepra

Active ingredients in J04B

Active Ingredient

Sulfoxone is a competitive inhibitor of bacterial enzyme dihydropteroate synthetase. The normal substrate for the enzyme, para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) cannot bind as usual. The inhibited reaction is necessary in these organisms for the synthesis of folic acid. Aldesulfone sodium (or sulfoxone) is an antibiotic used in the treatment of leprosy.

Clofazimine is an antimycobacterial drug. Clofazimine exerts a slow bactericidal effect on Mycobacterium leprae (Hansen’s bacillus). Clofazimine inhibits mycobacterial growth and binds preferentially to mycobacterial DNA.

Dapsone is a sulfone active against a wide range of bacteria. Dapsones mechanism of action is probably similar to that of the sulfonamides which involves inhibition of folic acid synthesis in susceptible organisms.

Related product monographs

Document Type Information Source  
 LAMPRENE Soft gelatin capsule MPI, Generic Health Products Regulatory Authority (ZA)