Nicotinamide N-oxide (Nicotinamide 1-oxide) is recognized as an in vivo metabolite of nicotinamide which is a precurser of nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) in animals. The enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of nicotinamide N-oxide to nicotinamide in the liver is xanthine oxidase.

Nicotinamide, a vitamin B3 variant, serves as a precursor to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, crucial for oxidative phosphorylation and dehydrogenase cofactor roles. It undergoes metabolism via two pathways: initial methylation by nicotinamide N-methyltransferase, followed by aldehyde oxidase oxidation, and direct oxidation to nicotinamide N-oxide. Studies have introduced a range of nicotinamide N-oxides as innovative, effective CXCR2 receptor antagonists. Specifically, Compound 1 effectively inhibits neutrophil chemotaxis (IC50=10 nM), whereas Compound 2 selectively blocks IL-8 binding (IC50=110 nM) and also significantly hampers neutrophil chemotaxis (IC50=170 nM).