Alprostadil

Prostaglandin Analog — CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM

Key facts

Alprostadil is an ofp drug in the Prostaglandin Analog class catalogued in DrugCentral. It was first approved by the FDA in 1981. Its mechanism of action is classified as Prostaglandin Receptor Agonists. DrugCentral lists 20 molecular targets, including Ptger3, Ptger4 and PTGER3. Recorded indications include Aorta Dextratransposition with Intact Ventricular Septum, Coarctation of aorta, Congenital atresia of the pulmonary valve and Congenital atresia of tricuspid valve.

• Approval status: ofp (first approved 1981 by the FDA).
• Drug class: Prostaglandin Analog; Prostaglandin E1 Agonist.
• Mechanism of action: Prostaglandin Receptor Agonists.
• Molecular targets: Ptger3, Ptger4, PTGER3 and PTGER4 (20 listed in DrugCentral).
• Indications: Aorta Dextratransposition with Intact Ventricular Septum, Coarctation of aorta, Congenital atresia of the pulmonary valve, Congenital atresia of tricuspid valve and Congenital Heart Defect Requiring Open Patent Ductus Arteriosus and others.
• ATC code: C01EA01 (Prostaglandins).
• Molecular formula: C20H34O5; molecular weight 354.49 g/mol.

Indications & contraindications

Drug–disease relationships curated by DrugCentral (OMOP / SNOMED concepts).

Indications (9)

• Aorta Dextratransposition with Intact Ventricular Septum
• Coarctation of aorta
• Congenital atresia of the pulmonary valve
• Congenital atresia of tricuspid valve
• Congenital Heart Defect Requiring Open Patent Ductus Arteriosus
• Ebstein's anomaly of tricuspid valve
• Impotence
• Pulmonary artery stenosis
• Tetralogy of Fallot

Off-label uses (2)

• Peripheral vascular disease
• Pulmonary hypertension

Contraindications (23)

• Apnea
• Balanitis
• Blood coagulation disorder
• Deformity of Erection of the Penis
• Disorder of lung
• Erythrocytosis
• Fibrosis of corpus cavernosum
• Hb SS disease
• Hypospadia
• Induratio penis plastica
• Leukemia, disease
• Low blood pressure
• Lymphoid leukemia
• Multiple myeloma
• Penis bent
• Penis implantation
• Priapism
• Pyloric obstruction
• Respiratory distress syndrome in the newborn
• Sickle cell trait
• Thrombocytosis
• Urethral stricture
• Urethritis

Mechanism & targets

• Mechanism of action (MoA): Prostaglandin Receptor Agonists
• Established pharmacologic class: Prostaglandin Analog; Prostaglandin E1 Agonist

Molecular targets (20)

Target	Gene	Action	Activity
Prostaglandin E2 receptor EP3 subtype	Ptger3	agonist	EC50 9.35
Prostaglandin E2 receptor EP4 subtype	Ptger4	agonist	Ki 9.20
Prostaglandin E2 receptor EP3 subtype	PTGER3	agonist	EC50 9.00
Prostaglandin E2 receptor EP4 subtype	PTGER4	agonist	EC50 8.80
Prostaglandin E2 receptor EP4 subtype	Ptger4	unknown	Ki 8.51
Prostaglandin E2 receptor EP3 subtype	Ptger3	unknown	Ki 8.30
Prostaglandin E2 receptor EP1 subtype	Ptger1	unknown	Ki 8.22
Prostaglandin E2 receptor EP2 subtype	Ptger2	agonist	Ki 8.00
Prostaglandin E2 receptor EP2 subtype	PTGER2	agonist	EC50 8.00
Prostaglandin E2 receptor EP2 subtype	Ptger2	unknown	Ki 7.66
Prostacyclin receptor	PTGIR	unknown	EC50 7.50
Prostacyclin receptor	Ptgir	agonist	Ki 7.50
Prostaglandin D2 receptor	PTGDR	unknown	EC50 7.30
Prostaglandin E2 receptor EP1 subtype	Ptger1	agonist	Ki 7.00
Prostaglandin E2 receptor EP1 subtype	PTGER1	agonist	EC50 6.80
Cation channel sperm-associated protein 1	CATSPER1	activator	EC50 6.30
Cation channel sperm-associated protein 4	CATSPER4	activator	EC50 6.30
Cation channel sperm-associated protein 3	CATSPER3	activator	EC50 6.30
Cation channel sperm-associated protein 2	CATSPER2	activator	EC50 6.30
Nuclear receptor subfamily 4 group A member 2	NR4A2	unknown	EC50 5.52

Regulatory approvals (1)

Date	Agency	Marketed as	Applicant	Orphan
1981-10-16	FDA	—	PHARMACIA AND UPJOHN

ATC classification

ATC code	Therapeutic hierarchy
C01EA01	CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM › CARDIAC THERAPY › OTHER CARDIAC PREPARATIONS › Prostaglandins
G04BE01	GENITO URINARY SYSTEM AND SEX HORMONES › UROLOGICALS › UROLOGICALS › Drugs used in erectile dysfunction

Reported adverse-event signals

Strongest FDA FAERS disproportionality signals (log-likelihood ratio). A signal is a statistical association in spontaneous reports, not proof that the drug causes the event.

MedDRA term	LLR
Incision site pain	201.9
Lymphocyte count decreased	190.2
Priapism	189.8
Drug ineffective	179.7
Erection increased	166.9
Neutrophil count increased	135.2
Red blood cells urine positive	130.3
Blood urea increased	124.6
Venoocclusive disease	123.9
Penile pain	102.8
Infantile apnoea	92.7
Infantile cortical hyperostosis	86.3

Chemical structure

Full physicochemical, ADMET and 3D-structure analysis of Alprostadil is on its molecule page.

• Molecular formula: C₂₀H₃₄O₅
• Molecular weight: 354.49 g/mol
• CAS number: —
• InChIKey: GMVPRGQOIOIIMI-DWKJAMRDSA-N
• PubChem CID: 5280723

CCCCC[C@H](O)\C=C\[C@H]1[C@H](O)CC(=O)[C@@H]1CCCCCCC(O)=O

Frequently asked questions

Answers are generated from the structured data on this page, not written by hand.

What is Alprostadil used for?

DrugCentral lists the following indications for Alprostadil: Aorta Dextratransposition with Intact Ventricular Septum, Coarctation of aorta, Congenital atresia of the pulmonary valve, Congenital atresia of tricuspid valve, Congenital Heart Defect Requiring Open Patent Ductus Arteriosus, Ebstein's anomaly of tricuspid valve, Impotence and Pulmonary artery stenosis and others.

How does Alprostadil work?

Alprostadil is classified as Prostaglandin Receptor Agonists; its molecular targets in DrugCentral include Ptger3 (agonist), Ptger4 (agonist), PTGER3 (agonist) and PTGER4 (agonist).

When was Alprostadil first approved?

Alprostadil was first approved by the FDA in 1981.

What drug class does Alprostadil belong to?

Alprostadil is in the Prostaglandin Analog class.

What is the chemical formula of Alprostadil?

Alprostadil has the molecular formula C20H34O5 and a molecular weight of 354.49 g/mol.

Sources

• DrugCentral drug card 138 — structure, indications, targets, approvals, pharmacologic classes (CC BY-SA 4.0)
• ChEMBL CHEMBL495 — compound record and bioactivity
• PubChem CID 5280723 — chemical identifiers
• DrugBank DB00770 — drug record
• FDA UNII F5TD010360 — substance identity
• DailyMed: FDA labels for Alprostadil — current prescribing information (label search)
• UniProt P43115 (PTGER3) — target protein
• UniProt P35408 (PTGER4) — target protein
• UniProt P43116 (PTGER2) — target protein
• UniProt P43119 (PTGIR) — target protein
• UniProt Q13258 (PTGDR) — target protein
• UniProt P34995 (PTGER1) — target protein
• FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (openFDA FAERS) — adverse-event signals, as aggregated by DrugCentral

How this page is built: methodology · editorial policy & corrections.