Penicillamine (Artamine), possessing antineoplastic properties, induces apoptosis by a p53-mediated mechanism and inhibits angiogenesis by chelating with copper, a cofactor for angiogenesis. Artamine is a beta dimethyl analog of the amino acid cysteine. As a degradation product of penicillin antibiotics, Artamine chelates with heavy metals and increases their urinary excretion.