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Volume 18
Issue 11
10.3390/ph18111628
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Review

Repurposing Auranofin for Oncology and Beyond: A Brief Overview of Clinical Trials as Mono- and Combination Therapy

by
Doralice Giorgini
1,2,†,
Lorenzo Chiaverini
1,†,
Monica Viviano
2,
Raffaella Belvedere
3,
Silvia Salerno
1,
Emma Baglini
4,
Federico Da Settimo
1,
Tiziano Marzo
1,
Sabrina Taliani
1,* and
Elisabetta Barresi
1,*
1
Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno Pisano 6, 56126 Pisa, PI, Italy
2
Epigenetic Med Chem Lab, Department of Pharmacy, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy
3
Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy
4
Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council of Italy, CNR Research Area, 56124 Pisa, PI, Italy
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors equally contributed to this work.
Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18(11), 1628; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18111628
Submission received: 11 August 2025 / Revised: 16 October 2025 / Accepted: 25 October 2025 / Published: 28 October 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Pharmacology)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Auranofin (AF) is an oral gold(I) compound with a well-known pharmacological profile, currently used in the treatment of some severe forms of rheumatoid arthritis. Over the last twenty years, AF has also been repurposed as an antitumor, antiviral, and antibacterial drug. In this context, this review provides an updated overview of all clinical trials investigating AF for the treatment of various pathologies, either as monotherapy or in combination with other agents. We started summarizing the rationale behind repurposing AF in oncology, including its ability to inhibit thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) and disrupt redox homeostasis, leading to selective cytotoxicity in cancer cells. Clinical data from trials across a range of tumors are reviewed, highlighting safety profiles, dosing regimens, pharmacokinetics, and observed therapeutic outcomes. Then, we discussed the synergistic effects observed when AF is combined with chemotherapeutics, targeted therapies, or immune modulators. Then, an overview concerning the trials involving AF in non-oncological settings is also provided. Despite promising preclinical results, clinical translation remains in early stages, with most trials still in phase I or II. Nevertheless, emerging evidence supports continued exploration of AF-based therapies to address unmet medical needs.
Keywords: auranofin; clinical trials; drug repurposing; cancer auranofin; clinical trials; drug repurposing; cancer

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MDPI and ACS Style

Giorgini, D.; Chiaverini, L.; Viviano, M.; Belvedere, R.; Salerno, S.; Baglini, E.; Da Settimo, F.; Marzo, T.; Taliani, S.; Barresi, E. Repurposing Auranofin for Oncology and Beyond: A Brief Overview of Clinical Trials as Mono- and Combination Therapy. Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18, 1628. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18111628

AMA Style

Giorgini D, Chiaverini L, Viviano M, Belvedere R, Salerno S, Baglini E, Da Settimo F, Marzo T, Taliani S, Barresi E. Repurposing Auranofin for Oncology and Beyond: A Brief Overview of Clinical Trials as Mono- and Combination Therapy. Pharmaceuticals. 2025; 18(11):1628. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18111628

Chicago/Turabian Style

Giorgini, Doralice, Lorenzo Chiaverini, Monica Viviano, Raffaella Belvedere, Silvia Salerno, Emma Baglini, Federico Da Settimo, Tiziano Marzo, Sabrina Taliani, and Elisabetta Barresi. 2025. "Repurposing Auranofin for Oncology and Beyond: A Brief Overview of Clinical Trials as Mono- and Combination Therapy" Pharmaceuticals 18, no. 11: 1628. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18111628

APA Style

Giorgini, D., Chiaverini, L., Viviano, M., Belvedere, R., Salerno, S., Baglini, E., Da Settimo, F., Marzo, T., Taliani, S., & Barresi, E. (2025). Repurposing Auranofin for Oncology and Beyond: A Brief Overview of Clinical Trials as Mono- and Combination Therapy. Pharmaceuticals, 18(11), 1628. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18111628

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