Galzin (zinc acetate)
An approved treatment for Wilson Disease.
The same compound appears under different names depending on the context. Here is how to identify Zinc acetate wherever you encounter it, plus the key facts at a glance.
- Generic name
- Zinc acetate
- Brand name
- Galzin
- Drug class
- Copper absorption inhibitor (zinc salt)
- Manufacturer
- Eton Pharmaceuticals
- How it's taken
- Capsules taken by mouth three times daily, on an empty stomach (at least 1 hour before or 2 to 3 hours after meals).
An oral zinc acetate formulation approved as maintenance therapy for Wilson disease in patients who were first treated with a chelating drug. Zinc blocks dietary copper absorption rather than chelating circulating copper, which makes it well-suited to long-term maintenance. The label also reports a study in presymptomatic patients, but its approved use is maintenance after a chelator. Galzin returned to U.S. supply through Eton Pharmaceuticals in early 2025.
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Where Zinc acetate fits
First-line maintenance therapy in many centers, particularly for presymptomatic patients identified through family screening and for stable patients transitioning off chelation. The label says zinc is not recommended as the first treatment for patients who already have symptoms, because it takes time to start blocking copper; these patients start on a chelating drug, and combined chelator-then-zinc strategies are common.
How Zinc acetate works
Oral zinc that induces metallothionein in intestinal cells. Metallothionein binds dietary copper and prevents its absorption, so excess copper is shed in the feces when intestinal cells turn over. Unlike chelators, zinc does not actively remove copper that is already in the body but blocks new copper from being absorbed.
Side effects and safety
Generally better tolerated than chelators. The most common side effect is gastric irritation and nausea, particularly with the morning dose; this can often be managed by spacing doses around meals. The label also warns about stomach ulcers with long-term use and about copper deficiency after months to years of zinc, which can cause anemia, low white blood cell or platelet counts, and nerve problems. Raised amylase, lipase, and alkaline phosphatase levels can also occur. The label advises against breastfeeding while taking zinc, because zinc passes into breast milk and can cause copper deficiency in the baby. Zinc and chelators should not be taken at the same time of day, since chelators bind zinc and reduce its effect.
This is not a complete list of side effects. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about what to expect and when to seek medical attention.
Taking Zinc acetate
Capsules taken by mouth three times daily, on an empty stomach (at least 1 hour before or 2 to 3 hours after meals). Standard adult maintenance dose is 50 mg of elemental zinc three times daily. The label says 25 mg three times daily may be enough for children 10 and older and during pregnancy; children under 10 have not been studied.
Availability and cost
Only available as the brand-name product.
Help paying for Galzin
Pick your insurance to see which help fits. Drugmaker copay cards can't be used with Medicare, Medicaid or TRICARE; charity funds are the usual route there.
- Copay help
$0 copay for eligible commercially insured patients.
For: private insurance · source - Insurance and case manager help
A Galzin prescription automatically enrolls you. Insurance specialists help verify and obtain coverage; pharmacists available 24/7 by phone.
The official page does not say who qualifies. Ask the program. · source
Good to know: Covers brand GALZIN (Eton Pharmaceuticals), dispensed through its specialty pharmacy, Anovo (833-442-5946 or 855-813-2039). Full copay terms are not posted on the site. There is no FDA-approved generic zinc acetate.
- From a charity · Wilson Disease AssociationWDA Patient Assistance fundApply directly
Pays for: Travel and lodging (up to 7 days) for testing or treatment, for the patient and one companion, up to $2,000 per year.
The foundation says: “Status not shown on page”
How Wilson disease treatments compare
Four FDA-approved medications are available for Wilson disease, plus several investigational programs in late-stage trials. Treatment choice depends on your stage (active de-coppering versus stable maintenance), your tolerance to penicillamine, whether you have neurologic or hepatic features, and your age. This chart summarizes the practical differences between the approved options.
4 FDA-approved wilson disease treatments are available: Cuprimine / Depen (penicillamine, approved 1970); Syprine (trientine hydrochloride, approved 1985); Galzin (zinc acetate, approved 1997); Cuvrior (trientine tetrahydrochloride, approved 2022). Cuprimine / Depen is typically used as approved for wilson disease in general. carries a boxed warning and needs blood and urine tests every 2 weeks for the first 6 months..
| Drug | How it works | How it’s given | How often | Where you take it | Typical use | FDA approved |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cuprimine / Depen penicillamine | Copper chelator that binds copper in the body so it leaves in the urine. The original Wilson disease drug. | Oral capsule or tablet, taken on an empty stomach | 0.75 to 1.5 g a day, split into 2 to 4 doses (AASLD); lower doses for maintenance | Home (oral) | Approved for Wilson disease in general. Carries a boxed warning and needs blood and urine tests every 2 weeks for the first 6 months. | 1970 |
Syprine trientine hydrochloride | Copper chelator that binds copper so it leaves in the urine. No trial has compared it head to head with penicillamine as a first treatment (AASLD). | Oral capsule, taken on an empty stomach (capsules require refrigeration) | 2 to 4 times daily | Home (oral) | Approved for patients who cannot tolerate penicillamine. Generic versions are available. | 1985 |
Galzin zinc acetate You are here | Copper absorption blocker. It makes gut cells produce a protein (metallothionein) that traps copper from food before it can be absorbed. | Oral capsule, taken on an empty stomach (separated from chelators) | 3 times daily | Home (oral) | Approved for maintenance after a person has first been treated with a chelator; not for the first treatment of someone with symptoms. | 1997 |
Cuvrior trientine tetrahydrochloride | Copper chelator with the same action as Syprine, in a more stable salt that is stored at room temperature and taken twice a day. | Oral tablet, taken on an empty stomach | Twice daily | Home (oral) | Approved for adults with stable Wilson disease who are de-coppered and tolerant to penicillamine; designed as a maintenance switch option. | 2022 |
This chart summarizes approved Wilson disease treatments to help you understand your options. It is not medical advice. Treatment decisions depend on your individual disease stage, prior therapies, tolerability, and lab values for copper control. Investigational programs (ALXN1840, UX701, PM577a) are not included because they are not FDA-approved. Always discuss options with your hepatologist or metabolic specialist.
Development history
Zinc has been used in Wilson disease since George Brewer's work in the 1980s established it as effective maintenance therapy. The FDA approved Galzin (zinc acetate) in 1997 as a specifically labeled Wilson disease therapy, complementing existing over-the-counter zinc preparations. Galzin had supply interruptions in the U.S. for several years before Eton Pharmaceuticals reintroduced it in March 2025.
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Common questions about Zinc acetate
▸What is Zinc acetate (Galzin)?
An oral zinc acetate formulation approved as maintenance therapy for Wilson disease in patients who were first treated with a chelating drug. Zinc blocks dietary copper absorption rather than chelating circulating copper, which makes it well-suited to long-term maintenance. The label also reports a study in presymptomatic patients, but its approved use is maintenance after a chelator. Galzin returned to U.S. supply through Eton Pharmaceuticals in early 2025.
▸What is the mechanism of action of Zinc acetate?
Oral zinc that induces metallothionein in intestinal cells. Metallothionein binds dietary copper and prevents its absorption, so excess copper is shed in the feces when intestinal cells turn over. Unlike chelators, zinc does not actively remove copper that is already in the body but blocks new copper from being absorbed.
▸What are the side effects of Zinc acetate?
Generally better tolerated than chelators. The most common side effect is gastric irritation and nausea, particularly with the morning dose; this can often be managed by spacing doses around meals. The label also warns about stomach ulcers with long-term use and about copper deficiency after months to years of zinc, which can cause anemia, low white blood cell or platelet counts, and nerve problems. Raised amylase, lipase, and alkaline phosphatase levels can also occur. The label advises against breastfeeding while taking zinc, because zinc passes into breast milk and can cause copper deficiency in the baby. Zinc and chelators should not be taken at the same time of day, since chelators bind zinc and reduce its effect.
▸How is Zinc acetate taken?
Capsules taken by mouth three times daily, on an empty stomach (at least 1 hour before or 2 to 3 hours after meals). Standard adult maintenance dose is 50 mg of elemental zinc three times daily. The label says 25 mg three times daily may be enough for children 10 and older and during pregnancy; children under 10 have not been studied.
▸Is Zinc acetate FDA approved?
Yes, Zinc acetate (Galzin) is FDA approved (1997) for the treatment of Wilson Disease.
▸What is Galzin (zinc acetate) used for?
Galzin (zinc acetate) is an oral zinc formulation approved in 1997 as maintenance therapy for Wilson disease in patients who were first treated with a chelating drug. Zinc blocks dietary copper absorption rather than chelating circulating copper, which makes it well-suited to long-term maintenance. The label says zinc is not recommended as the first treatment for patients who already have symptoms, because it takes time to start blocking copper.
▸How is Galzin taken?
Galzin capsules are taken by mouth 3 times daily on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 to 3 hours after meals. The standard adult maintenance dose is 50 mg of elemental zinc 3 times daily, and the label says 25 mg 3 times daily may be enough for children 10 and older and during pregnancy. Zinc and chelators should not be taken at the same time of day, since chelators bind zinc and reduce its effect.
▸What are the side effects of Galzin?
Galzin is generally better tolerated than chelators. Its most common side effect is gastric irritation and nausea, particularly with the morning dose, which can often be managed by spacing doses around meals. The label also warns about stomach ulcers with long-term use, copper deficiency after months to years of zinc (which can cause anemia, low blood counts, and nerve problems), and raised amylase, lipase, and alkaline phosphatase levels, and it advises against breastfeeding while taking zinc.
▸Is Galzin available in the U.S.?
Yes. Eton Pharmaceuticals relaunched Galzin (zinc acetate) in the U.S. on March 3, 2025, and Eton is now the company behind it.