Taurolidine/heparin
Taurolidine/heparin, sold under the brand name Defencath, is a fixed-dose combination catheter lock solution used for central venous catheter instillation. It contains taurolidine, a thiadiazinane antimicrobial; and heparin, an anti-coagulant. Its use is limited to people with kidney failure receiving chronic hemodialysis through a central venous catheter.
The most frequently reported adverse reactions include hemodialysis catheter malfunction, hemorrhage/bleeding, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, musculoskeletal chest pain, and thrombocytopenia.
Taurolidine/heparin was approved for medical use in the United States in November 2023. The US Food and Drug Administration considers it to be a first-in-class medication.