Health Sciences · Hospital for Sick Children
A glass phial containing 10 ml of a milky white liquid (Alfathesin/ Althesin). The phial has a white label with blue printing. There are pale white/ grey bands around the narrow portion of the neck.
Note that the Hospital for Sick Children Collection also includes an investigational sample used in earlier clinical testing.
Accession Number: 2025.sk.64
Alternative Name:
Primary Materials: Glass
Printed in blue lettering on the label: “DIN 334391”; “LA 10026-8006”
Stamped in black lettering on the label: “(L) 1GP4 33” “EXP 01/83”
Height = 9.5, Width = 1.7, Length = 1.7.
Alfathesin (also marketed as Alfaxolone/ Alfadolone and Althesin) was an intravenous anesthetic consisting of a 3:1 mixture of two steroids: Alophaxalone and alphadolone acetate. A series of clinical studies, leading to approval of this anesthetic took place over the early to mid 1970s (see Brogden, Speight, and. Avery 1974).
Condition: This artifact is intact and unused.
Associated Instruments:
Glaxo Laboratories Ltd., Greenford, Middlesex, UK
Date of Manufacture: c. 1980
Provenance:
K. J. Child et al. 1971. “The pharmacological properties in animals of CT1341—a new steroid anaesthetic agent.” British Journal of Anaesthesia 43: 2-13.
R. Brogden, T. Speight, and G. Avery 1974. “Alfathesin (‘Althesin’ – Glaxo): An Independent Report.” Drugs. 1974;8(2):87-108.
K. Rifat, H. Stainier, M. Gemperle, G. Szappanyos. M. Hemmer M, and V. Weiss 1975. “Klinische Untersuchungen des Steroid-Anaestheticums CT-1341 (Althesin) (Kardiovasculäre und respiratorische Wirkungen)” [Clinical investigations of the steroid anaesthetic agent CT-1341 (Althesin) (Cardiovascular and respiratory effects)]. Anaesthesist. 1975 Jan;24(1):6-12.
Jean-Paul Dechêne 1976. “Alphathesin, a new steroid anaesthetic agent.” Canadian Anaesthetists’ Society Journal 23, 163–169.
Alfaxolone/ Alfadolone (initially called Glaxo CT1341) was developed through animal trials at Glaxo Research Ltd. Fulmer, England. (See K. J. Child et. al. 1971.) It subsequently underwent clinical testing over the early 1970s. (see Dechêne 1976). Althesin was withdrawn in 1984 due to allergic reactions to the solubilizing agent Cremophor. The drug was reintroduced for veterinary use as Alfaxalone in a new formulation.