Phenformin

Phenformin (1-phenethylbiguanide) is an orally active antidiabetic and anticancer agent. Phenformin has an incidence of associated lactic acidosis. Phenformin acts through acting AMPK activation and blocking mTOR pathway. Phenformin is also a substrate of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), and an OXPHOS inhibitor. Phenformin induces cancer cell apoptosis[1][2].

Product Specifications

CAS Number

[114-86-3]

Product Name Alternative

Phenethylbiguanide

UNSPSC

12352005

Hazard Statement

H302, H315, H319, H335

Target

AMPK; Apoptosis; Mitochondrial Metabolism

Type

Reference compound

Related Pathways

Apoptosis; Epigenetics; Metabolic Enzyme/Protease; PI3K/Akt/mTOR

Applications

Metabolism-sugar/lipid metabolism

Field of Research

Cancer; Metabolic Disease

Assay Protocol

https://www.medchemexpress.com/phenformin.html

Purity

99.72

Solubility

H2O : 350 mg/mL (ultrasonic)

Smiles

NC(NC(NCCC1=CC=CC=C1)=N)=N

Molecular Formula

C10H15N5

Molecular Weight

205.26

Precautions

H302, H315, H319, H335

References & Citations

[1]García Rubiño ME, et al. Phenformin as an Anticancer Agent: Challenges and Prospects. Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Jul 5;20 (13) :3316.|[2]Yendapally R, et al. A review of phenformin, metformin, and imeglimin. Drug Dev Res. 2020 Jun;81 (4) :390-401.

Shipping Conditions

Room Temperature

Storage Conditions

RT, protect from light

Scientific Category

Reference compound1

Clinical Information

Launched

Citation 01

Int J Biol Macromol. 2025 Aug 21;323 (Pt 1) :147047.|ACS Omega. 2022 Jan 18;7 (4) :3293-3311.|Biomed Pharmacother. 2020 Aug;128:110216.|Cell Rep Med. 2022 Nov 15;3 (11) :100802.|Life Sci. 2019 Jan 15:217:243-250.|Mol Syst Biol. 2023 Jul 11;19 (7) :e11267.|Nat Commun. 2019 Jul 1;10 (1) :2901. |Pharmaceuticals (Basel) . 2024 Sep 19;17 (9) :1234.