Sodium polydihydroxyphenylene thiosulfonate explained

Sodium polydihydroxyphenylene thiosulfonate (гипоксен, Hypoxen) is under laboratory studies in Russia as a potential regulator of cell metabolism.^[1] It is purported to affect mitochondrial function,^[2] though this has not been proven in any high-quality, peer-reviewed publications.

It is registered in Russia as an antihypoxic agent, but has not been subjected to any clinical trials meeting internationally accepted standards, and has no regulatory approval as a prescription drug outside Russia and some former Soviet states. Although called an "oxygen booster" in public media to imply its potential to "increase endurance and reduce fatigue",^{[3] [4]} there is no scientific evidence it has this property, and it is not used in conventional cardiology as a therapy for treating heart disease.^[5]

Hypoxen is sold online without a prescription, mainly from Russian websites, and does not appear to be sold in health stores in the United States.^[5] Hypoxen is not listed on the prohibited substance list of the World Anti-Doping Agency.^[5] In 2017, the United States Anti-Doping Agency applied to have hypoxen banned from athletic competitions, but the ban was not implemented.^[3]

It has been identified in tests on athletes in competition, such as Kamila Valieva, a Russian figure-skater competing at the 2022 Winter Olympics, but is not itself banned in international competitions, as of 2022.^{[4] [6]}

It is claimed to be a polymeric mixture containing between 2 and 6 repeat units of 2,4-dihydroxyphenylene with a thiosulphonate group joined at the end.^{[7] [8]}

See also

• Meldonium
• Trimetazidine

Notes and References

1. Novikov VE, Levchenkova OS, Ivantsova EN, Vorobieva VV . Mitochondrial dysfunctions and antihypoxants. . Reviews on Clinical Pharmacology and Drug Therapy . 2019 . 17 . 4 . 31–42 . 10.17816/RCF17431-42 . 214116979 . free .
2. Kosenko EA, Abramova MB, Venediktova NI, Popova II, Kaminskii YG . The drug hypoxen: A new inhibitor of mitochondrial respiration and dehydrogenases. . Biology Bulletin of the Russian Academy of Sciences . 37 . 4 . 346–350 . August 2010 . 10.1134/S1062359010040035 . 2010BioBu..37..346K . 33122047 .
3. News: Selina Wang, Simone McCarthy, Hannah Ritchie . Kamila Valieva: US anti-doping chief questions skater's drug regimen to 'increase endurance and reduce fatigue' . 18 February 2022 . CNN . 16 February 2022.
4. News: What we know now: The latest developments in Kamila Valieva's doping case. . Schad T . USA Today . 16 February 2022. 18 February 2022.
5. News: Kolata G . Cardiologists question the utility of the drugs found in Valieva's blood . 16 February 2022 . The New York Times . 15 February 2022.
6. News: Kamila Valieva's sample included three substances sometimes used to help the heart. Only one is banned . Panja T . The New York Times. 15 February 2022. 16 February 2022.
7. [poly-(2,5-dihydroxyphenylene)]-4-thiosulfoacid sodium salt as regulating agent of cell metabolism and a method of its synthesis. ]. Popov VG Igumnova EM . RU . 2105000 . 20 February 1998 .
8. Novikov KN, Berdnikova NG, Novikov AK, Lyusina OY, Muhitova OG, Yablonskaya OI, Minh HD, Voeikov VL . 6 . Changes in chemiluminescence of whole blood of COPD patients treated with Hypoxen and effects of C₆₀ fullerenes on blood chemiluminescence . Medical Science Monitor . 18 . 2 . BR76–BR83 . February 2012 . 22293870 . 3560587 . 10.12659/msm.882460 .