Amlexanox is an antiallergic drug, clinically effective for atopic diseases, especially allergic asthma and rhinitis. Amlexanox as a topical paste is a well tolerated treatment of recurrent aphthous ulcers. Recurrent aphthous ulcer (RAU) is the most prevalent oral mucosal disease in humans, estimated to affect between 5% and 50% of the general population. (en)
# Bell J: Amlexanox for the treatment of recurrent aphthous ulcers. Clin Drug Investig. 2005;25(9):555-66. "Pubmed":http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17532700 (en)
As a benzopyrano-bipyridine carboxylic acid derivative, amlexanox has anti-inflammatory and antiallergic properties. It inhibits chemical mediatory release of the slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis (SRS-A) and may have antagonistic effects on interleukin-3. When cells are under stress, they release an inactive form of human fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF-1), a potent mitogen (entity that causes mitosis). Amlexanox binds to FGF1, increasing its conformational stability, sterically blocking Cu(2+) induced oxidation which normally leads to activation of FGF-1. (en)