What is Penicillamine?

Penicillamine is a pharmaceutical of the chelator class. It has been sold under the trade names of Cuprimine and Depen. The pharmaceutical form is D-penicillamine, as L-penicillamine is toxic (it inhibits the action of pyridoxine). It is an α-amino acid metabolite of penicillin, although it has no antibiotic properties.

It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, a list of the most important medication needed in a basic health system.