Answer
Aug 07, 2026 - 02:38 PM
Auranofin has a very long half-life because the gold derived from the drug remains in the body for an extended period.
According to the current Ridaura (auranofin) prescribing information:
- Terminal plasma half-life: about 26 days (range 21–31 days)
- Terminal whole-body half-life: about 80 days (range 42–128 days)
Auranofin itself is rapidly metabolized and isn't detected intact in the blood, so these half-life measurements refer to the gold component of auranofin. Because of this long elimination period, gold can remain in the body for several months after auranofin is stopped.
If you'd like, I can also explain how long auranofin takes to completely leave the body or how long it takes to start working.
