TheraRadar
Data updated: May 26, 2026

SODIUM NITRITE

Other Approved 2012-02-14

Sodium nitrite is an antidote used for patients experiencing serious or life-threatening acute cyanide poisoning. It is administered as part of a sequential regimen with sodium thiosulfate to counteract the rapid cellular damage caused by the toxin. Healthcare providers use this medication with caution when a diagnosis is not certain, weighing the risks of the treatment against the severity of the patient's condition.

Source: FDA Label • HOPE PHARMS

How SODIUM NITRITE Works

This medication works by reacting with hemoglobin to create methemoglobin, which has a high affinity for cyanide and pulls it away from the mitochondria. By displacing cyanide from cytochrome oxidase, the drug allows cells to resume normal oxygen use and aerobic metabolism. The resulting combination forms cyanomethemoglobin, a non-toxic substance that helps neutralize the poison's effects.

1
Indication
--
Phase 3 Trials
14
Years on Market

Details

Status
Prescription
First Approved
2012-02-14
Patent Cliff
2031

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Active Ingredient: SODIUM NITRITE

SODIUM NITRITE Approval History

2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Original
New Indication
New Form
Label Update
3 FDA actions from 2012 to 2021
Jan 2021 SUPPL
Label · Labeling
Oct 2017 SUPPL
Label · Labeling
Feb 2012 ORIGINAL
Update · Type 5 - New Formulation or New Manufacturer

What SODIUM NITRITE Treats

1 indications

SODIUM NITRITE is approved for 1 conditions since its original approval in 2012. These indications span multiple therapeutic areas including oncology, immunology, and more.

  • Cyanide Poisoning
Source: FDA Label

SODIUM NITRITE Boxed Warning

LIFE THREATENING HYPOTENSION AND METHEMOGLOBIN FORMATION Sodium nitrite can cause serious adverse reactions and death in humans, even at doses less than twice the recommended therapeutic dose. Sodium nitrite causes hypotension and methemoglobin formation, which diminishes oxygen carrying capacity. Hypotension and methemoglobin formation can occur concurrently or separately. Because of these risks, sodium nitrite should be used to treat acute life-threatening cyanide poisoning and be used with ca...

SODIUM NITRITE Competitive Set

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Three rings of competition based on shared molecular targets and treated indications.

Direct competitors

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Same target(s) AND same indication — head-to-head.

Filters applied: drops same-active-ingredient (505(b)(2) reformulations), route-mismatch (topical vs systemic), and cross-therapeutic-area matches in same-indication rings.

Drugs Similar to SODIUM NITRITE

FDA-approved drugs for similar conditions. Compare mechanisms and indications to understand treatment alternatives.

CYANOKIT
HYDROXOCOBALAMIN
1 shared
BTG INTL
Shared indications:
Cyanide Poisoning
NITHIODOTE
SODIUM NITRITE
1 shared
HOPE PHARMS
Shared indications:
Cyanide Poisoning
SODIUM THIOSULFATE
SODIUM THIOSULFATE
1 shared
US ARMY
Shared indications:
Cyanide Poisoning
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Clinical Trial Registry

19 trials
Trial Sponsor ID Phase Status Title
NCT02694393 results posted PRO15040062 Ph 1, Ph 2 terminated Inhaled Sodium Nitrite as an Antimicrobial for Cystic Fibrosis
NCT03015402 PH-HFpEF results posted STUDY20010014 5P01HL103455 Ph 2 completed Oral Nitrite in Patients With Pulmonary Hypertension and Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
NCT02713126 INABLE results posted 16-001467 R01HL128526 Ph 2 completed Inorganic Nitrite to Amplify the Benefits and Tolerability of Exercise Training in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF) (INABLE-Training)
NCT02433977 NICLA results posted PRO14110207 Ph 2 completed The Effects of NOx and Conjugated Linoleic Acid on Asthmatics
NCT04289558 Pro00100364 R01HL130763 Ph 1 withdrawn Nitrite Infusion in Children With Malaria
NCT04401527 SN02-01 Ph 2 withdrawn Treatment of Lung Injury From COVID-19 Infection With Intravenous Sodium Nitrite
NCT00873015 results posted 14024 1R44NS063485-01 Ph 2 completed Safety and Pharmacokinetic Evaluation of Nitrite for Prevention of Cerebral Vasospasm
NCT02412852 results posted TheraVasc-TV1001-003 Ph 2 completed A Phase 2a Study to Assess Safety & Pharmacokinetics of Sustained Release Sodium Nitrite in Patients With Diabetic Pain
NCT04354051 228798 Ph 1, Ph 2 completed The Nitrite and Coronary Flow Study
NCT01401517 results posted TheraVasc-TV1001-002 Ph 2 completed Phase IIa: Safety, PK, & Tolerability of Sodium Nitrite in Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease-SONIC
NCT02918552 ONOH results posted STUDY19070450 1R56AG051637-01A1 Ph 2 completed Oral Nitrite for Older Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
NCT03331146 1709284471 Ph 3 withdrawn Nitrite Infusion in High Risk Patients Undergoing Cardiopulmonary Bypass
NCT01715883 results posted PRO11030251 Ph 2 terminated Sodium Nitrite in Lung Transplant Patients to Minimize the Risk of Pulmonary Graft Dysfunction
NCT00924118 results posted NA_00023049 Ph 2 completed Sodium Nitrite in Acute Myocardial Infarction
NCT02987088 51605-A Ph 1 completed Phase 1 Clinical Trial of Sodium Nitrite for Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest
NCT02176837 results posted SN-03-01 Ph 2 terminated Intravenous Nitrite Infusion for Reversal of Cerebral Vasospasm After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
NCT01584453 NITRITE-AMI 11/LO/1500 Ph 2 completed Safety and Effectiveness of Intra-coronary Nitrite in Acute Myocardial Infarction
NCT01388504 NIAMI 3/030/10 Ph 2, Ph 3 completed Nitrites in Acute Myocardial Infarction
NCT02022670 results posted R21HL107105 Ph 1, Ph 2 completed Sodium Nitrite to Treat Arterial Aging
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Active Pipeline

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Key Completed Trials

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Trial Timeline

Full development history with FDA approval milestones

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Understanding FDA Approval Types
Count Type What it means
- ORIG Original approval - drug first enters market
- SUPPL - Efficacy New indication (new disease/condition approved)
- SUPPL - Labeling Label text changes (warnings, dosing updates)
- SUPPL - Manufacturing Production changes (new facility)
- SUPPL - Chemistry Formulation changes (new dosage strength)

Green lines in the timeline show ORIG and Efficacy approvals - the clinically meaningful milestones.

SODIUM NITRITE FDA Label Details

Indications & Usage

FDA Label (PDF)

SODIUM NITRITE is indicated for the treatment of Cyanide Poisoning.

⚠️ BOXED WARNING

WARNING: LIFE THREATENING HYPOTENSION AND METHEMOGLOBIN FORMATION Sodium nitrite can cause serious adverse reactions and death in humans, even at doses less than twice the recommended therapeutic dose. Sodium nitrite causes hypotension and methemoglobin formation, which diminishes oxygen carrying ca...

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2 OB patents · 1 families · 64 international docs across 16 countries

SODIUM NITRITE Patents & Exclusivity

Latest Patent: Dec 2031

Patents (2 active)

US8568793 Expires Dec 24, 2031
US9687506 Expires Feb 10, 2030
Source: FDA Orange Book

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Patent Timeline

  • Cliff: 2031
  • 3 active patents

Trial Analysis

  • Clinical trial tracking
  • Development stage analysis

Competitive Landscape

  • 3 similar drugs
  • Same target/indication analysis
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Data Sources

Data sourced from official FDA and NIH databases. Click links to verify on original sources.