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Carbomer 980

GlaxoSmithKline · Phase 1 active Small molecule ✓ Verified May 2026 Quality 50/100

Carbomer 980 is a Pharmaceutical excipient (polymer) Small molecule drug developed by GlaxoSmithKline. It is currently in Phase 1 development. Also known as: Topical vehicle gel.

Carbomer 980 acts as an inert polymer that swells in water to form viscous gels, providing structural support and controlled release properties in pharmaceutical formulations.

Carbomer 980 is a substance that has been studied in clinical trials for various conditions, including the common cold, dry eye syndrome, glaucoma, and ocular hypertension. It has been tested as a treatment in nasal and ocular applications, with studies evaluating its local tolerability and safety in healthy adult participants.

Likelihood of approval
12.6% vs 9.6% industry baseline
If approved by FDA: likely 2033–2036
Steps remaining: Phase 2 → Phase 3 → NDA/BLA submission
Confidence: Medium
Why this estimate
  • Baseline phase 1 → approval rate +9.6pp
    Industry-wide phase 1 drugs reach approval ~9.6% of the time (BIO/Informa 2023 industry benchmark across all therapeutic areas).
  • Big-pharma sponsor +3.0pp
    GlaxoSmithKline is a top-20 pharma sponsor — historical approval rates run ~3pp above average due to scale, regulatory experience, and trial-design quality.
Predicted approval windows by jurisdiction (conditional on FDA approval)
Regulator Country Likely year Lag vs FDA
FDA US 2033–2036
EMA EU 2034–2037 +0.7 yr
MHRA GB 2034–2037 +0.7 yr
Health Canada CA 2034–2038 +0.9 yr
TGA AU 2034–2038 +1.2 yr
PMDA JP 2034–2038 +1.5 yr
NMPA CN 2035–2039 +2.3 yr
MFDS KR 2034–2038 +1.4 yr
CDSCO IN 2034–2039 +1.8 yr
ANVISA BR 2035–2039 +2.3 yr

Hover any row for the lag rationale. Lag estimates are reduced when the drug has FDA Breakthrough or EMA PRIME designation (sponsors file globally in parallel).

Estimate based on the BIO/Informa industry phase transition rates plus per-drug modifiers for therapeutic area, sponsor type, FDA designations, mechanism, and trial design. Per-jurisdiction lags from Tufts CSDD international approval studies. Not investment, clinical or regulatory advice. Methodology: /methodology#likelihood.

At a glance

Generic nameCarbomer 980
Also known asTopical vehicle gel
SponsorGlaxoSmithKline
Drug classPharmaceutical excipient (polymer)
ModalitySmall molecule
PhasePhase 1

Mechanism of action

Carbomer 980 is not a pharmacologically active compound. It functions as a pharmaceutical excipient that cross-links when neutralized, creating a gel matrix that can suspend active ingredients, control drug release rates, and improve product stability and patient acceptability.

Approved indications

Common side effects

No common side effects on file.

Key clinical trials

Primary sources

Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.

SourceUsed for
ClinicalTrials.govTrial enrolment, design, endpoints, results

Competitive intelligence

For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:

Frequently asked questions about Carbomer 980

What is Carbomer 980?

Carbomer 980 is a Pharmaceutical excipient (polymer) drug developed by GlaxoSmithKline.

How does Carbomer 980 work?

Carbomer 980 acts as an inert polymer that swells in water to form viscous gels, providing structural support and controlled release properties in pharmaceutical formulations.

Who makes Carbomer 980?

Carbomer 980 is developed by GlaxoSmithKline (see full GlaxoSmithKline pipeline at /company/gsk).

Is Carbomer 980 also known as anything else?

Carbomer 980 is also known as Topical vehicle gel.

What drug class is Carbomer 980 in?

Carbomer 980 belongs to the Pharmaceutical excipient (polymer) class. See all Pharmaceutical excipient (polymer) drugs at /class/pharmaceutical-excipient-polymer.

What development phase is Carbomer 980 in?

Carbomer 980 is in Phase 1.

Related

Primary sources · FDA · ClinicalTrials.gov · EMA · SEC EDGAR · ChEMBL · Wikidata · full sourcing