{"id":"kainic-acid","rwe":[{"pmid":"41897358","year":"2026","title":"The Role of GABA and Its Receptors in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy.","finding":"","journal":"Biomolecules","studyType":"Clinical Study"},{"pmid":"41880562","year":"2026","title":"DIRAS2 modulates MAPK pathway-mediated ferroptosis to regulate excitation/inhibition balance and seizure susceptibility.","finding":"","journal":"Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America","studyType":"Clinical Study"},{"pmid":"41852585","year":"2026","title":"A high-throughput biocatalytic platform for screening isomeric kainoid natural products.","finding":"","journal":"Cell reports. Physical science","studyType":"Clinical Study"},{"pmid":"41836312","year":"2026","title":"Coactivation of CB1 and GPR55 promotes GABA release and motor behavior at striatonigral terminals through increased dimerization induced by CB1 activation.","finding":"","journal":"Frontiers in molecular neuroscience","studyType":"Clinical Study"},{"pmid":"41825802","year":"2026","title":"Biphasic response of silent synapses: Differential remodeling of hippocampal synaptic plasticity by status epilepticus in juvenile versus adult mice.","finding":"","journal":"Neurochemistry international","studyType":"Clinical Study"}],"tags":[{"label":"Small Molecule","category":"modality"},{"label":"Glutamate receptor ionotropic, kainate 4","category":"target"},{"label":"GRIK4","category":"gene"},{"label":"GRIK5","category":"gene"},{"label":"GRIK3","category":"gene"},{"label":"Active","category":"status"},{"label":"Anthelmintics","category":"pharmacology"},{"label":"Anti-Infective Agents","category":"pharmacology"},{"label":"Antinematodal Agents","category":"pharmacology"},{"label":"Antiparasitic Agents","category":"pharmacology"},{"label":"Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists","category":"pharmacology"},{"label":"Neurotransmitter Agents","category":"pharmacology"}],"phase":"phase_2","safety":{},"trials":[],"aliases":[],"patents":[],"pricing":[],"allNames":"digenin","offLabel":[],"synonyms":["kainic acid","digenic acid","digenin","helminal","alpha-Kainic acid","kainic acid hydrate"],"timeline":[],"aiSummary":"Digenin, also known as Kainic Acid, is a small molecule modality targeting the Glutamate receptor ionotropic, kainate 4. Its mechanism of action involves activating this receptor subtype, leading to excitotoxicity and neuronal damage. However, its exact clinical use and commercial status are unclear. As a result, there is limited information available on its approved indications, half-life, bioavailability, and generic manufacturers. Further research is needed to fully understand its pharmacological properties and potential therapeutic applications.","approvals":[],"brandName":"Digenin","ecosystem":[],"mechanism":{"target":"Adenosine receptor A3, Glutamate receptor 1, Glutamate receptor 2","targets":[{"gene":"GRIK4","source":"DrugCentral","target":"Glutamate receptor ionotropic, kainate 4","protein":"Glutamate receptor ionotropic, kainate 4"},{"gene":"GRIK5","source":"DrugCentral","target":"Glutamate receptor ionotropic, kainate 5","protein":"Glutamate receptor ionotropic, kainate 5"},{"gene":"GRIK3","source":"DrugCentral","target":"Glutamate receptor ionotropic, kainate 3","protein":"Glutamate receptor ionotropic, kainate 3"},{"gene":"GRIK2","source":"DrugCentral","target":"Glutamate receptor ionotropic, kainate 2","protein":"Glutamate receptor ionotropic, kainate 2"},{"gene":"ADORA3","source":"DrugCentral","target":"Adenosine receptor A3","protein":"Adenosine receptor A3"},{"gene":"GRIK1","source":"DrugCentral","target":"Glutamate receptor ionotropic, kainate 1","protein":"Glutamate receptor ionotropic, kainate 1"},{"gene":"GRIA4","source":"DrugCentral","target":"Glutamate receptor 4","protein":"Glutamate receptor 4"},{"gene":"GRIA3","source":"DrugCentral","target":"Glutamate receptor 3","protein":"Glutamate receptor 3"},{"gene":"GRIA1","source":"DrugCentral","target":"Glutamate receptor 1","protein":"Glutamate receptor 1"},{"gene":"GRIA2","source":"DrugCentral","target":"Glutamate receptor 2","protein":"Glutamate receptor 2"}],"modality":"Small Molecule","explanation":"Imagine your brain cells have special locks on them. Kainic Acid is a key that fits into one of these locks, causing the cell to become overactive and eventually die. This can be useful in research settings, but it's not a treatment for any specific medical condition.","oneSentence":"Kainic Acid activates the Glutamate receptor ionotropic, kainate 4, leading to excitotoxicity and neuronal damage.","technicalDetail":"Kainic Acid acts as an agonist at the Glutamate receptor ionotropic, kainate 4, a subtype of glutamate receptors that play a crucial role in excitatory neurotransmission. By activating this receptor, Kainic Acid triggers a cascade of events leading to an influx of calcium ions into the neuron, ultimately resulting in excitotoxicity and neuronal damage."},"commercial":{},"references":[{"id":1,"url":"https://drugcentral.org/drugcard/3201","fields":["approvals","synonyms","ATC","PK","indications","contraindications","DDIs","targets","patents","FAERS"],"source":"DrugCentral"},{"id":2,"url":"https://clinicaltrials.gov/search?intr=KAINIC%20ACID","fields":["trials"],"source":"ClinicalTrials.gov"},{"id":3,"url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=KAINIC ACID","fields":["publications"],"source":"PubMed/NCBI"}],"_enrichedAt":"2026-03-30T12:12:41.557760","biosimilars":[],"competitors":[{"drugName":"adenosine","drugSlug":"adenosine","fdaApproval":"1989-10-30","genericCount":15,"patentStatus":"Off-patent — generic available","relationship":"same-target"},{"drugName":"amiodarone","drugSlug":"amiodarone","fdaApproval":"1985-12-24","patentExpiry":"Mar 13, 2029","patentStatus":"Patent protected","relationship":"same-target"},{"drugName":"astemizole","drugSlug":"astemizole","fdaApproval":"1988-12-31","relationship":"same-target"},{"drugName":"atenolol","drugSlug":"atenolol","fdaApproval":"1981-08-19","genericCount":22,"patentStatus":"Off-patent — generic available","relationship":"same-target"},{"drugName":"auranofin","drugSlug":"auranofin","fdaApproval":"1985-05-24","patentStatus":"Unknown","relationship":"same-target"},{"drugName":"baclofen","drugSlug":"baclofen","fdaApproval":"1977-11-22","patentExpiry":"Sep 8, 2037","patentStatus":"Patent protected","relationship":"same-target"},{"drugName":"caffeine","drugSlug":"caffeine","fdaApproval":"1948-11-26","genericCount":8,"patentStatus":"Off-patent — generic available","relationship":"same-target"},{"drugName":"candesartan cilexetil","drugSlug":"candesartan-cilexetil","fdaApproval":"1998-06-04","genericCount":6,"patentStatus":"Off-patent — generic 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acid","indications":{"approved":[],"offLabel":[],"pipeline":[]},"drugCategory":"active","labelChanges":[],"relatedDrugs":[{"drugId":"adenosine","brandName":"adenosine","genericName":"adenosine","approvalYear":"1989","relationship":"same-target"},{"drugId":"amiodarone","brandName":"amiodarone","genericName":"amiodarone","approvalYear":"1985","relationship":"same-target"},{"drugId":"astemizole","brandName":"astemizole","genericName":"astemizole","approvalYear":"1988","relationship":"same-target"},{"drugId":"atenolol","brandName":"atenolol","genericName":"atenolol","approvalYear":"1981","relationship":"same-target"},{"drugId":"auranofin","brandName":"auranofin","genericName":"auranofin","approvalYear":"1985","relationship":"same-target"},{"drugId":"baclofen","brandName":"baclofen","genericName":"baclofen","approvalYear":"1977","relationship":"same-target"},{"drugId":"caffeine","brandName":"caffeine","genericName":"caffeine","approvalYear":"1948","relationship":"same-target"},{"drugId":"candesartan-cilexetil","brandName":"candesartan cilexetil","genericName":"candesartan cilexetil","approvalYear":"1998","relationship":"same-target"},{"drugId":"celecoxib","brandName":"celecoxib","genericName":"celecoxib","approvalYear":"1998","relationship":"same-target"},{"drugId":"choline-theophyllinate","brandName":"choline theophyllinate","genericName":"choline theophyllinate","approvalYear":"1981","relationship":"same-target"}],"trialDetails":[{"nctId":"NCT06063850","phase":"PHASE1,PHASE2","title":"AMT-260 Gene Therapy Study in Adults With Unilateral Refractory Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy","status":"RECRUITING","sponsor":"UniQure Biopharma B.V.","startDate":"2024-06-12","conditions":["Mesial Temporal Lobe 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