Last reviewed 2026-04-20 · How we verify

DESF

Desf works by interacting with a specific biological target to produce a therapeutic effect.

Desf is a small molecule drug developed by Aquestive Therapeutics and currently owned by Baxter Healthcare. Unfortunately, there is limited information available on its target, drug class, and approved indications. It is available as a generic medication, indicating that its patent has expired. As a result, there is no active Orange Book patent for desf. Further research is needed to understand its mechanism of action and key safety considerations.

At a glance

Mechanism of action

Imagine desf as a key that fits into a lock on a cell. When it binds to the lock, it triggers a series of events that ultimately lead to the desired outcome, such as reducing symptoms or slowing disease progression.

Approved indications

• General anesthesia

Common side effects

• Coughing
• Breath holding
• Nausea
• Apnea
• Vomiting
• Laryngospasm
• Increased secretions
• Oxyhemoglobin desaturation (SpO2 < 90%)
• Pharyngitis
• Headache
• Bradycardia
• Hypertension

Serious adverse events

• Hepatic failure
• Hepatic necrosis
• Respiratory arrest
• Respiratory failure
• Cardiac arrest
• Myocardial infarction
• Ventricular failure
• Torsade de pointes
• Convulsion
• Malignant hypertension

Key clinical trials

• Pharmacokinetics Study of DESF in Adults With Oral Allergy Syndrome (PHASE2)

Primary sources

Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.

Competitive intelligence

For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:

• DESF CI brief — competitive landscape report
• DESF updates RSS · CI watch RSS
• Baxter Hlthcare portfolio CI