Clinical Trials

Disulfiram has an established evaluation history across numerous clinical trials spanning early to late phases, predominantly supported by academic and medical institutions such as the University of Washington, University of California San Francisco, and the New York State Psychiatric Institute. Beyond its application in alcohol use disorder and cocaine addiction, these trials have explored oncology indications—including glioblastoma, melanoma, prostate cancer, and multiple myeloma—as well as COVID-19 and inherited retinal dystrophy. Recruitment statuses across these studies range from completed and actively recruiting to terminated.

NCT Number Recruitment Conditions Sponsor/Collaborators Start Date Phases
NCT06793488 RECRUITING
Alcohol Use Disorder
Columbia University
 2025-09-15 EARLY_PHASE1
NCT06319872 RECRUITING
Alcohol Use Disorder; Retinal Dystrophies; Age-Related Macular Degeneration; Retinitis Pigmentosa; Stargardt Disease
University of Rochester
 2025-05-19 PHASE1
NCT01777919 NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Glioblastoma Multiforme
Olympion Medical Center
 2027-01 PHASE2
NCT07477457 RECRUITING
Osteosarcoma; Metastasis
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
 2026-03-11 PHASE2
NCT07719127 NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Brain (Nervous System) Cancers
Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
 2026-10 PHASE1
NCT07534332 NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Rheumatoid Arthritis; Inflammation; Obesity
University of Oklahoma
 2026-09 PHASE2
NCT05626920 RECRUITING
Inherited Retinal Dystrophy Primarily Involving Sensory Retina
University of Washington
 2026-05-03 PHASE1; PHASE2
NCT05210374 RECRUITING
Relapsed Sarcomas
Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
 2023-03-09 PHASE1
NCT05667415 UNKNOWN
Chemotherapy；Advanced Gastric Cancer；Cisplatin；Disulfiram
First People's Hospital of Hangzhou
 2023-06-01
NCT03323346 COMPLETED
Breast Neoplasm Female; Metastatic Breast Cancer
The Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Czech Republic
 2017-09-29 PHASE2
NCT02715609 COMPLETED
Glioblastoma Multiforme
Washington University School of Medicine
 2016-06-15 PHASE1; PHASE2
NCT02671890 TERMINATED
Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma; Refractory Malignant Solid Neoplasm; Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer AJCC v8
Mayo Clinic
 2016-02-25 PHASE1
NCT03543735 COMPLETED
Drinking, Alcohol
Butler Hospital
 2018-11-29
NCT05626920 Recruiting
Inherited Retinal Dystrophy Primarily Involving Sensory Retina
University of Washington
 2023-12 Phase 1|Phase 2
NCT04485130 TERMINATED
Covid19
University of California, San Francisco
 2021-08-18 PHASE2
NCT05162001 UNKNOWN
Obesity; Drug
Universidad de Guanajuato
 2021-11-21 EARLY_PHASE1
NCT03363659 TERMINATED
Glioblastoma; Glioblastoma Multiforme
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
 2018-03-28 PHASE2
NCT04265274 WITHDRAWN
Metastatic Breast Cancer
National Cancer Institute, Slovakia
 2020-01-01 PHASE2
NCT04521335 TERMINATED
Multiple Myeloma
University of Utah
 2021-05-21 PHASE1
NCT03891667 COMPLETED
Fatigue; Quality of Life
Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc.
 2019-07-31 PHASE1; PHASE2
NCT03950830 COMPLETED
Germ Cell Tumor
National Cancer Institute, Slovakia
 2019-05-14 PHASE2
NCT04594343 COMPLETED
Covid19
ETICA
 2020-11-20 PHASE2
NCT04502589 COMPLETED
Alcohol Disorders
Virginia Commonwealth University
 2020-10-15 PHASE1; PHASE2
NCT04485130 Terminated
Covid19
University of California San Francisco
 2021-08-18 Phase 2
NCT02678975 COMPLETED
Glioma; Glioblastoma
Sahlgrenska University Hospital
 2017-01 PHASE2; PHASE3
NCT03151772 TERMINATED
Glioblastoma
Sahlgrenska University Hospital
 2018-01-29 EARLY_PHASE1
NCT03714555 TERMINATED
Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer
HonorHealth Research Institute
 2019-10-17 PHASE2
NCT02735577 COMPLETED
Alcohol Use Disorder
New York State Psychiatric Institute
 2016-03 PHASE4
NCT03198559 TERMINATED
HIV Infections
University of Melbourne
 2017-08-08 PHASE1; PHASE2
NCT02963051 TERMINATED
Prostate Cancer
Daniel George, MD
 2017-07-11 PHASE1
NCT02770378 COMPLETED
Glioblastoma
University of Ulm
 2016-11 PHASE1; PHASE2
NCT03034135 COMPLETED
Recurrent Glioblastoma
Cantex Pharmaceuticals
 2017-03-09 PHASE2
NCT03151772 Terminated
Glioblastoma
Sahlgrenska University Hospital Sweden
 2018-01-29 Early Phase 1
NCT01907165 COMPLETED
Glioblastoma
Washington University School of Medicine
 2013-10-10 EARLY_PHASE1
NCT00729300 COMPLETED
Cocaine Addiction
Baylor College of Medicine
 2006-04 PHASE1; PHASE2
NCT02134002 WITHDRAWN
Cocaine Dependence
Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris
 2014-06 PHASE4
NCT01286259 COMPLETED
HIV-1 Infection
University of California, San Francisco
 2011-01
NCT01944371 COMPLETED
HIV; Human Immunodeficiency Virus
University of California, San Francisco
 2013-09 PHASE1; PHASE2
NCT00878306 COMPLETED
HIV Infections; Drug Abuse
University of California, San Francisco
 2008-11 PHASE1
NCT00742911 COMPLETED
Cancer
University of Utah
 2008-07 PHASE1
NCT02101008 COMPLETED
Melanoma
University of Utah
 2010-03 PHASE2
NCT00721526 COMPLETED
Alcohol Dependence; Anxiety Disorder
University of New Mexico
 2009-08 PHASE4
NCT00571116 TERMINATED
Metastatic Melanoma
University of California, Irvine
 2006-09 PHASE1
NCT02309801 Completed
Healthy
Parc de Salut Mar|Ministerio de Sanidad Servicios Sociales e Igualdad
 2012-07 Phase 1
NCT01118741 COMPLETED
Prostate Cancer
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins
 2010-05
NCT00395850 COMPLETED
Cocaine Dependence
University of Arkansas
 2007-04 PHASE2
NCT00350870 COMPLETED
Cocaine Abuse
Yale University
 2005-04 PHASE1
NCT00731133 COMPLETED
Methamphetamine Dependence
University of Arkansas
 2008-08 PHASE1; PHASE2
NCT00312819 COMPLETED
Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
Hadassah Medical Organization
 2006-03 PHASE2; PHASE3
NCT00149630 COMPLETED
Cocaine Dependence; Opioid Dependence
Baylor College of Medicine
 2005-01 PHASE2
NCT00256230 COMPLETED
Stage IV Melanoma
John P. Fruehauf
 2002-01 PHASE1; PHASE2
NCT00218608 COMPLETED
Cocaine-Related Disorders; Opioid-Related Disorders
University of Arkansas
 2001-04 PHASE2
NCT00142844 COMPLETED
Alcohol-Related Disorders; Alcoholism; Cocaine-Related Disorders
University of Pennsylvania
 1999-09 PHASE2
NCT00580827 COMPLETED
Cocaine-Related Disorder; Opiate Dependence
Yale University
 2003-09
NCT00913484 COMPLETED
Cocaine Dependence; Opioid Dependency
Yale University
 2000-10 PHASE2
NCT00000278 COMPLETED
Alcohol-Related Disorders; Cocaine-Related Disorders
Yale University
 1994-09 PHASE2
NCT00431262 UNKNOWN
Alcoholism
Psykiatrisk Center Gentofte
 2007-02 PHASE4
NCT00435435 COMPLETED
Alcohol Dependence
Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
 2000-09 PHASE4
NCT00094289 UNKNOWN
Alcohol-Related Disorders; Cocaine-Related Disorders
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
 2004-08 PHASE1
NCT00002065 COMPLETED
HIV Infections
St. Vincent's Medical Center

(data from https://clinicaltrials.gov, updated on 2026-02-10)

Check the Tetraethylthiuram disulfide (Disulfiram) product page for in-depth specifications, including solubility, stock solutions, MOA, and working concentrations.

Compliance for Clinical Use

Mechanism and Biochemical Profile

Disulfiram selectively inhibits human aldehyde dehydrogenase with IC50 values of 0.15 μM for hALDH1 and 1.45 μM for hALDH2 while also inhibiting gasdermin D pore formation, thereby preventing acetaldehyde oxidation, promoting toxic metabolic accumulation, and inducing apoptotic cell death. This enzyme inhibition produces acute sensitivity to ethanol intake in alcohol use disorder management, while its ALDH blockade and apoptotic activity support its investigation in clinical trials for glioblastoma and melanoma.

Appendix RUO and cGMP Quality Standards

Quality Dimension RUO (Research Use Only) cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practice)
Clinical Applicability Prohibited in human clinical trials or medical diagnostics. Mandatory for human clinical trials (Phase I–III) and therapies.
Regulatory Status Non-regulated grade; exempt from drug manufacturing laws. Legally enforced by health authorities (e.g., FDA, EMA, NMPA).
Facility Environment Unclassified analytical or research laboratories. Validated Cleanrooms (ISO Class 5–8) with continuous monitoring.
Quality Control Basic purity and activity testing. Rigorous safety release testing (Sterility, Endotoxin, Mycoplasma).
Process Validation Basic equipment calibration; no process validation required. Full qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ) and complete batch records.
Quality Assurance Vendor self-declared without required formal QMS. Mandatory QA/QC unit, Change Control, CAPA, and vendor audits.
Regulatory Impact High risk of IND rejection if used as a critical raw material. Required for IND/NDA filings, supported by Drug Master Files (DMF).

Footnotes

Regulatory Note: Governed by FDA (21 CFR Parts 210/211/312), EMA (EudraLex Vol 4), ICH Guidelines (E6/Q7/Q9/Q10), and compendial standards (USP <71>/<85>/<1043>).

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Note: Technical data last updated: Sep 1, 2026.